In order to complete my research the socio historical context of my subculture I used three sources. The first source was a section of a book call The Polyamorists next Door: Inside Multiple-partner Relationships and Families and a database call This Is the Family I Chose: Broadening Domestic Partnership Law to Include Polyamory. After reading both of this writing, and other side sources they all stated the same information of how polyamory started and what influenced it. During the time that polyamory was starting, the social norm was a monogamous relationship between a man and a woman, but during the nineteenth and twentieth century there was various movements and sexual revolutions that happen, which went against this social norm and helped
Within Canada we have a generous amount of freedom but this leads to the abuse of our system. This is especially true with regards to polygamy in Bountiful, BC. Because women are susceptible to mental abuse in polygamist relationships it should continue to be illegal in Canada. If this law is in enforced it would help women to be freed of the oppression caused by male domination, eliminate the need for women to suppress feelings that conflict with the ideals of the polygamy life, and aid in avoiding depression resulting from the build-up of concealed feelings.
People who enter into polyamorous relationships also report an “At first… but then” experience. At first they believe that there is something wrong with them or that they are interested in cheating on their partners. After doing some research they find that there are others like them, and that they are not as abnormal as they originally thought. They discover that there are more people out there like them, and that it is possible to enter into multiple, honest relationships (Barker, 2005). More people might be interested in polyamorous relationships if they were not afraid of the repercussions placed on them by society. People are afraid of ideas that go against cultural norms, and nonmonogamous relationships definitely push the boundaries. They might view polyamorous relationships as more realistic for their lifestyles and how they feel about relationships, but are too afraid to enter into a polyamorous relationship because they are pressured by their culture to participate in exclusive relationships. Also, many people who do engage in polyamorous relationships are not actually “out” about their relationships or sexual interests. Very small numbers of people are actually open about their nonmonogamous relationships either sexually or emotionally (Barker, 2005). Many people are
In Millennium: Strange Relations, presented by David Maybury Lewis examines the concept of marriage by focusing on three different groups the Nyimba of Nepal, Wodaabe of Niger, finally a Canada (Western European viewpoint). Lewis also examines the concepts of monogamy, fraternal polyandry, and polygyny with the respective case studies.
Polygamy is the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. Polyandry is a form of polygamy where a woman can marry more than one man at the same time, and polygyny is another form of polygamy where a man is allowed to have more than one wife. Polygamy is more known than polyandry. Polygamy is permitted in countries like Australia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Africa, and in other countries like the United States, England, Spain, and Mexico it is not permitted. Many view Polygamy as a sexual desire and satisfaction to be with more than just one man or woman, but for many cultural reasons, man and woman may have more than one wife or husband. As discussed in the video, the meaning of love & polygamy, the positive outcomes of having more than one wife or husband is so they can be provided each other with help.
I also learned about the the different perceptions on marriage having to do with monogamy versus polygamy. Coontz tells of a tradition in parts of Asia where: “A woman may be married to two or more brothers, all of whom share sexual access to her” (257). This shows a clearly polygamous relationship, whereas Bennett’s essay shows he is against polygamy and believes it marriage should only be two people. He says, “How could they explain why we ought to deny a marriage licence to a bisexual who wants to marry two people,” (272). This is very different from today’s perception of marriage as currently it is between only two people, and polygamous
Since Darwin’s Origin of the Species, we’ve been told that sexual monogamy comes natural. Mainstream science, as well as religious and cultural institutions, has maintained that men and women evolved in families in which a man’s possessions and protection were exchanged for a woman’s fertility and fidelity.
One of the best forms of family structures is polygyny which has been eroded through modernity and changes in culture. A unique culture, polygyny, particularly practiced in the Sub-Saharan Africa. According to Grey (2008), “Of the twenty-nine nations in the world classified as having high rates of polygyny, twenty-seven are located in sub-Saharan Africa, where the incidence of co-wives is ten times that found in other polygynous
Pollit expounds on the true meaning of marriage; by looking at the history of marriage. For a period of time, “polygyny was the rule;”
Polygyny is a form of marriage that one man marries multiple women. Apparently, there are two different types of polygynous marriages Sororal polygyny and Non-sororal polygyny. When the wives are invariably sisters it is know as Sororal polygyny marriage and
Could you imagine living in a world where it is acceptable for a man to marry more than one woman and be open about it? Not many can and that is why the practice of polygamy such is seen as taboo. The families usually live very private lives and they do not interact with a lot of the rest of America due to anti-bigamy society we live in. Polygamy is the practice of being married to more than one person at the same time (Webster 2015). This is not to be confused with an open relationship or an open marriage. This topic has been viewed and deemed as controversial for many years. As a practice that was not accepted in the public eye, it recently has gained more attention with mainstream media and culture. With shows on television such as “Sister
If you are wondering why Polyamorous was included in the Definitions list, it is because I am married to a wonderful woman for many years. There is one aspect of our marriage that is lacking and that is sexual interaction.
Overall, the author was able to get the message across, but it was not as clear or as broad as I wish it would have been. The second article, by Roseth, was also intriguing and yet again difficult to read. I so feel as though most people are more capable and willing to learn from literature when it is less dry. However, I did find the basic concepts of this article interesting. One of the most interesting parts of this article for me was the concept of “promiscuous” groups versus “family” groups. The author argues that humans are unique in that we tend to divide ourselves into monogamous family structures, but also interact with other humans. Whereas, a lot of animals mate with multiple partners and tend to only interact for sexual reasons. I found this to be mostly true, but would also like to point out that we do not always separate ourselves or stay monogamous. I believe that just by studying college age students along this can be shown to not be that case. It is fairly easy to see that a good majority of people tend to have sexual intercourse with many people before they marry. Also, some who do marry may not stay
Despite the argument that polygamist lifestyles are easier, polygamy has proven time and time again, to be a terrible lifestyle that has been dolled up to look like something that it is not. Polygamist families are often unable to meet their basic needs, “In spite of our poverty, my husband continued to marry other wives. I almost died from typhoid fever and my first baby died” (Spencer 1). The health and well-being is the last thing on the mind of a husband living in polygamy because he is constantly wanting more for himself. All of the sister wives are so in love with their husband, what they do not know is that he does not really love them, if he did he would
Everyone wants that special someone with whom they will spend the rest of their life. That someone who will help raise a family and instill great values in their children. But what happens when that person takes more than one spouse? What if they as children with more than one partner? This practice is called polygamy and, by all standards, should be illegal.