Number Fifteen: Bigamy Can Lead To Denied Citizenship

American marriage is modifying with the changing acceptances in society. As of this year same-sex marriages became legal in all fifty states. More women and men have children outside of marriage. People that do make the decision to marry choose to wait longer. "The stereotypical roles of women as housewives have switched with the male roles as providers. People have more and more options other than marriage. Divorces occur more often too. These changes can result in a decline in marriage rates. American marriage today is a fundamental choice for heterosexual couples that involves coordination efforts on those who commit to successfully keep the relationship happy and agreeable for families.

Marriage is a social institution that is practiced globally. Traditionally marriages are known to occur between one man and one woman. However, cultural values and time have reshaped and birthed new types of marriages. Polygamy is a type of marriage that is often practiced around the world specifically in Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Polyamorous marriages have been in existence for centuries. Polygamy is classified into two categories, polygyny, and polyandry. Polygyny is the most popular type of polygamy, in this type of polygamous marriage, a man is married to multiple women. On the other hand, polyandry which is the least familiar type of polygamy is where a woman is married to multiple husbands. The intolerance of Mormons in the United States has led to the outlawing of polyamorous marriages. The Morrill Anti Bigamy law of 1862 outlawed the practice of polygamy in the United States. Like many other laws, this law can be overturned. In fact, it should be reversed because illegalizing polygamy is unethical. Polygamy should be legalized because it is unconstitutional for it to be illegal, same-sex marriages and interracial marriages are legal, therefore so should polyamorous marriages. In addition, legalizing polygamy would prevent immigrant families who practice polygamy from being separated and it would also strengthen the feminist movement.

The state of Utah also relies heavily on Utah Const. art. III, § 1, in Utah’s Constitution stating “First: -- Perfect toleration of religious sentiment is guaranteed. No inhabitant of this State shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship; but polygamous or plural marriages are forever prohibited”, and Utah’s anti-polygamy statute, Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(1)(2)(3) stating “(1) A person is guilty of bigamy when, knowing he has a husband or wife or knowing the other person has a husband or wife, the person purports to marry another person or cohabits with another person, (2) Bigamy is a felony of the third degree, and (3) It shall be a defense to bigamy that the accused reasonably believed he and the

“I now pronounce you husband and wives.” Polygamy is a religion that has been practiced for centuries by Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Polygamous marriages consists of more than one spouse, and usually includes 3-7 adults. Polygamists spread their beliefs all around the world, however, the practice of polygamy is illegal in all 50 states. The crime is punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. Although some people believe polygamy should be legalized due to religious beliefs, it is more important to know that polygamy should remain illegal because it includes arranged marriages, rape or

is discriminated against because people do not see eye to eye with polygamists’ life choices.

There are many laws against polygamy in all 50 states. There have been many times over the years that people have gone to the state about things that involve polygamy. They did not just make polygamy illegal because they didn't like the lifestyle or because they didn't want the people to be happy. They made it illegal because some believe that polygamous groups are guilty of: bigamy, and child abuse, including forced marriage of teens and pre-teens to older men. Polygamy isn't a hard crime but it is very wrong. Even though it is illegal in all 50 states polygamy still happens. It is most common in Asia, Africa, and in the west of the UK. The husband can marriage as many wives as he wants but only the first wife

Polygamy comes in different forms and polygamy like monogamous relationships can be an abusive relationship or polygamy can be a wonderful relationship with multiple people. After researching about polygamy, many would decide that polygamy is not unethical, but just misunderstood. Americans would not have a problem with polygamy until their daughter or son came to them and said that they were going to be polygamous. Polygamy would never be an option for me, but developed society should not outlaw polygamy. Polygamy is not the reason that husbands abuse their wives, or that children do not get a proper education. It is the people, themselves that do all the evil. If polygamy was legal and anyone could participate in polygamy than polygamy would not be looked at as children getting abuses and wives not getting love or attention from their husband. If polygamous could come out of their hiding more and more monogamous would see that children are getting education and the wives are getting attention. Americans have a bad habit of presenting and only sharing the unwelcomed and different peoples’ worst sides. Polygamy may work for some and not for others, therefore, if it does not work for you, do not become

Polygamy is the practice of being married to one or more person at the same time. Polygamy exists in three specific forms polygyny wherein a man has multiple simultaneous wives; polyandry where in a woman has multiple simultaneous husbands. Woman has multiple simultaneous husbands; or group marriages wherein the family unit consists of multiple husbands and multiple wives.

Newman explains in the textbook about a certain type of marriage named polygamy, occurs when a man marries more than one wife. Polygamy is illegal in the United States, but practitioners are rarely prosecuted as long as they remain in the background. Families shape our customs, values, morals, and address many of society’s needs (Newman 2016:186-187). In Gorvett’s article, she mentions how polygamy is having adverse

In his article, “Is Polygamy Next?” William Baude argues that gay marriage is legalized because of fundamental right to marry, which also mean that in future people might ask to legalize polyamorous relationship. In the traditional definition, polygamy means one man and multiple women, which will cause problems in gender equality; but Baude argues that polygamy can be multiple people with same sex (because gay marriage is legalized). With that being said, gender equality will not be a concern. People believe that polygamy is impossible in the United States; same as few years ago, when people believe gay marriage would not be legalized by any means. The way people think are changing rapidly, and so as the laws.

Another taboo in today’s society in the early development of marriage was polygamy. Meaning from the Webster's Dictionary “The practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time”. In particular,

While strangers to the practice believe that people join plural relationships involuntarily, this is not always the case. Julen, a polygamist living in Arizona, speaks about how she made the decision to join her untraditional affinity and could also choose to leave the relationship if she ever becomes unhappy (Ling, 7). Polygamy can benefit our society in many ways including increasing the population and boosting large families’ economic status. Not only does this form of untraditional marriage serve the public, but in personal ways as well. Those who are a part of a blended family are blessed with an abundance of love and support coming from a bonded group of people. Likewise, the act of adultery is terminated: “..all spouses will have consent, then there is no extra-marital to hide from your partner” (Connectusfundadmin, 11). And lastly, polygamy gives freedom of choice in our Land of the Free. While there many are reasons to be on the opposition of this topic, the supporters of polygamy do have untold

Polygamy is not a common practice in the United States due to the fact that it is illegal, but

First and foremost, it is important to understand what polygamy or plural marriage is. The online Merriam-Webster dictionary

There exists many types of marriages like polyandry, polygyny, monogamy, and polygamy just to name a few. Polygamy was popular in the early 14th and 15th centuries, but now in our modern world polygamy has been outlawed in most of the countries, especially in the developed nations. Polygamy is still practiced in some countries in the East and in Africa. Like Cameroon, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Pakistan, Palestine, Yemen, South Africa, the list is long. The lists of countries that have outlawed polygamy