Page 97 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 13: Monogamy and Polygamy

had acknowledged polygyny in theoretical view, but monogamy custom is found in Naga, Notes
Gond, Baiga, Bheel, Toda, Lushai etc tribes of India. This custom is popular in most proto-aus-
tralide tribes of central India. In Bengal, due to Anuloma marriage and Hypergamy polygyny is
popular. This custom is also found in Nambudri Brahmin of south. Presently, there is legal ban
on polygyny.

It is said in Mahabharata that if a person marries again having a virtuous
wife blessed with son, then his sin cannot be washed away.

Causes of Polygyny
1. For getting a son: There is religious importance of son in Hindu religion. He only performs
the oblation and funeral of deceased mother & father. Thus second marriage can be done in
condition of childless wife or no birth of a son. Scriptures has given liberty of doing second
marriage if no son born by the first wife.
2. Economic Reason: The tribes which live in hilly areas, has to struggle strongly with nature
for livelihood. Due to odd geographical situation, the fulfillment of economic need can be
possible by the cooperation of many family members. The more number of ladies in the
family are utilized in agriculture and home industry to get economic cooperation.
3. Social Status: Wealthy, Landlords and Luxurious persons keep more wife as their status
symbol. Muslim rulers make Haram and Kshatriya rulers have many queens and keeps.
4. Sex Imbalance: One reason for polygyny is the presence of more women in comparison to
man in the society. In hunting, battle and venturing economic works death of more men
occurs in comparison to woman, which declines the number of men and polygyny flourish.
5. Lust and Sexual Experience: The desire of lust in man and wish of having change in sexual
experience has also given rise to polygyny.
6. Sororate (Marriage with sister-in-law): The society in which custom of Sororate is popular,
a man has to marry to all the sisters of his wife.
7. Levirate (Marriage with wife of deceased brother): In some societies Levirate is popular.
Thus when one of the brothers dies the other brother marries to his widow. Due to this
number of wife increases of the living brother.
8. Battle and Attack: At the time of battle and attack women are brought by abduction and
married with.
9. In many tribes, for the proper care of house and suitable nurturing of children having more
than one wife is considered good. In African tribes the women often visits his father’s place.
Thus more than one wife is kept to care children and house.
Westermark had told following reasons for the polygyny- (1) In forest tribes the pregnant and
breast feeding women cannot intercourse. This prohibition has lead to polygyny. (2) In forest
tribes women get old earlier in comparison to men, thus the man does other marriage. (3) Due
to wish of variation also polygyny is found. (4) Due to difficulty in livelihood more children are
considered good which is fulfilled by marrying more women.

Consequences of Polygyny
As a result of polygyny the society faces some merits and demerits which we will discuss over
here:

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