The practice of polygamy, where a man marries multiple wives, has existed for thousands of years in various cultures and religions around the world. However, in modern times, the majority of countries have outlawed polygamy, restricting marriage to monogamy – one spouse per person. Still, polygamy persists in some parts of the world, raising questions around its legality, morality, and implications for women’s rights and social dynamics. This article will examine whether it is legally possible for a man to marry two wives concurrently in different parts of the world in the present day.
The Legality of Polygamy
Polygamy is illegal in most developed countries. Many have specific bigamy laws that prohibit marrying multiple spouses at the same time. Bigamy is a crime in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and across Europe. Someone who tries to contract multiple marriages simultaneously can face criminal charges, fines, and even imprisonment.
However, polygamy remains legal in some developing countries and regions. These include:
Countries Where Polygamy is Legal
- Much of the Middle East – Polygamy is permitted in countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Oman, and Yemen. Usually, Muslim men are allowed up to 4 wives.
- Some parts of Asia – Polygamy is legal in Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka for Muslim men. It is also legal for Hindu men in India.
- Some Sub-Saharan African countries – Polygamy is widespread across West and Central Africa and legal in countries like Mali, Chad, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, South Sudan, and Nigeria. Most polygamous unions here are customary marriages rooted in tribal traditions.
Even in places where polygamy is legally permitted, usually certain requirements must be met for multiple marriages like:
Requirements for Legal Polygamy
- Consent of existing wife or wives
- Financial capacity to support multiple wives
- Equal treatment of all wives
So polygamy today is confined mostly to regions of Africa and Asia where it has cultural roots or religious significance. While illegal in Western countries, some immigrant communities quietly practice de-facto polygamy through long-term mistresses or separate households.
Motivations for Polygamy
Historically many factors drove the practice of polygamy across different cultures:
- In agricultural societies, multiple wives allowed greater numbers of children to work family land and enhanced male status.
- In patriarchal societies, polygamy demonstrated male dominance and allowed sexual variety.
- Religious significance – Polygamy was acceptable in early Jewish culture and sanctioned in Islamic texts.
- Cementing political alliances – Royals and nobles married multiple wives to seal partnerships between kingdoms and clans.
- Providing for widows – Men married their brother’s widow to financially support her.
But in the modern context, the motivations for polygamous marriage tend to center around:
Modern Motivations for Polygamy
- Religion – Some groups practice it because their faith permits or encourages polygamy.
- Culture – Polygamy persists as a custom among some indigenous peoples and traditional communities.
- Procreation – In some societies male status is boosted by siring many children through multiple wives.
- Sexual variety – Some men simply seek intimacy with multiple partners concurrently.
However, polygamy today remains highly controversial even where legal or customary, due to its implications for women’s rights, family dynamics, and social inequality.
Impacts of Polygamous Marriage
Researchers have identified various potential impacts – both positive and negative – of the practice of polygamy on families and society:
Potential Benefits of Polygamy
- It can allow an outlet for libido in cultures where extramarital affairs are taboo.
- Some women may prefer sharing a husband than remaining unmarried.
- It provides family support for widowed or divorced women.
- More adults to contribute income and childcare in the family unit.
Potential Drawbacks of Polygamy
- Risk of one wife feeling neglected or jealous of her co-wife receiving more material or emotional benefits.
- Can limit a wife’s access to her husband’s financial resources and time.
- May lead to rivalry and domestic violence between jealous co-wives.
- Higher incidence of depression, marital dissatisfaction, and feeling “trapped” reported by women in polygamous marriages compared to monogamy.
- Risk of favoritism towards one wife, neglecting others.
- Polygamy has correlation with high rates of HIV/AIDS transmission in some African nations.
Impact on Children
Effects on children in polygamous families are also complex:
- Creates extended family with multiple maternal figures.
- May have more parental supervision and support.
- But also risk of favoritism towards offspring of one wife over others.
- Children may witness family tensions or domestic violence more frequently.
Overall the effects span sociocultural, interpersonal, and health spheres. In developing nations where it is practiced, banning polygamy is unlikely to be effective when the practice is so culturally ingrained. Gradual progress in female education and empowerment may curb polygamy over generations. But the practice remains entrenched in various parts of the world today.
Arguments For and Against Polygamy
The debate around polygamous marriage also involves various ethical, moral, and pragmatic arguments. Some of the common ones include:
Arguments in Favor of Polygamy
- It has religious sanction in Muslim, early Jewish, and other faiths.
- Banning it infringes on religious freedom and personal choice.
- Monogamy is also challenging – many monogamous marriages end in divorce.
- It provides social support for women who would otherwise be single or impoverished.
Arguments Against Polygamy
- Polygamy historically subordinates women and violates gender equality.
- It has negative impacts on children and family dynamics.
- It poses public health risks like higher rates of STD transmission.
- Most women today favor monogamy and equal marital rights.
There are persuasive ethical points on both sides – freedom of religion versus gender equality, and so on. Ultimately it is a complex issue tied to cultural attitudes and faith-based beliefs. While polygamy may work for some, for the majority monogamy likely promotes healthier families in modern societies. But the arguments around whether to allow polygamous marriage show no signs of disappearing.
Conclusion
While the practice of polygamy – a man marrying multiple wives – has declined worldwide today compared to ancient times, it persists in some regions of Africa and Asia where it has religious and cultural roots. Polygamy is illegal in most Western countries, though some communities unofficially engage in it. Where legally permitted, polygamous marriages require consent of existing wives and financial capacity to support multiple spouses and children.
For men who pursue it, motivations range from religious piety and cultural tradition, to sexual variety and desire for many offspring. For women who become polygamous wives, motivations may include liking shared domestic burdens, while lacking other marriage prospects. But many researchers highlight that polygamy has controversial impacts like favoring male power over female equality, limited resources per wife, domestic tensions, and unfavorable social consequences.
There are fair ethical arguments for and against allowing the practice of polygamy. Ultimately multifaceted social, cultural, economic, and religious factors all sustain polygamy to varying degrees in different populations worldwide today. But there are good reasons why marriage equality came to be globally associated with monogamous partnerships, even if pockets of exception remain.