Mariam Khan
February 25, 2008
INAF-345-01
Various forms of marriage exist depending on the economic and social structure
of a given society. Both polyandry and polygamy are common forms of multiple
marriages found in society today. There are several reasons as to why polyandrous
marital systems are the norm in some cultures. Melvyn Goldstein outlines the reasons for
fraternal polyandrous marital systems where brothers marry one woman. One of the main
reasons why polyandry exists relates to the importance of having one set of heirs. In Tibet
many families are concerned with the state of family assets and producing one set of heirs
to keep those assets together (When Brothers Share a Wife, Goldstein, Page 110). Their
corresponding biological father does not claim the children of the family separately and
are therefore all considered heirs to all the family’s holdings. Another reason for the
success of polyandrous marital systems in Tibetan communities and the like is the
conflict that arises from joint families (Stratification, Polyandry, Family in Tibet
Goldstein, Page 69). Because of the importance of keeping together the property and
wealth of a family a joint family can sometimes be a viable option. The problem
Goldstein claims is with separate families mothers and fathers will favor their own
children and the collective interest of the family will be ignored. With one wife it is
almost guaranteed that the interest of the whole family will be considered. Another
reason why polyandrous marital systems seem rational is because of the stability it
provides for the husbands and the wife. The wife has the advantage of having multiple
husbands provide for the family and the children. The brothers, on the same note, have
the advantage of reduced work pressure. (When Brothers Share a Wife, Goldstein, Page
111). One individual brother is not completely responsible for supporting the family and
can rely on the division of labor between the husbands in the family.
Despite the rationale behind polyandrous marriages it has to be noted that
polygamy is all the more common in society today. Different marriage structures depend
mainly on the economic structure of a given society but the trend is/was more towards
polygamy rather than polyandry. Boserup’s examination of polygamy in African societies
credits a man’s personal gain and farm productivity for the rise in polygamous marriages
(The Economics of Polygamy, Boserup, Page 38). Having more help cultivating the land
allows for more capital to flow into the family therefore heightening the appeal of having
multiple wives. Another reason, I believe, why polygamy is more common is because of
religious factors. Boserup makes some reference to Muslim practices of polygamy but
does not see the momentous impact its influence has on these decisions. In the Muslim
religion men are allowed to marry multiple wives if he treats them equally. Many devote
Muslims practice polygamy mainly because their religion allows them to do so. One final
reason as to why polygamy is more common that polyandry relates to the very evident
gender stratification that exists today. Most women are disenfranchised and find that
marriage is the only way to better their situation. As Robert Wright claims in his article
The Marriage Market most women living in poverty would rather share their husband in
order for economic gains than marry someone monogamously that does not provide
financial stability (The Marriage Market, Robert Wright, Page 98). Though there are
various structural differences in societies that prescribe different marital forms polygamy
is still the most common form because of various social, economic, and structural
reasons.