Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Polygamy.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Polygamy.jpg|right|frame]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1591]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1591]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1:  [[marriage]] in which a [[spouse]] of either [[Gender|sex]] may have more than one [[mate]] at the same time  

*1:  [[marriage]] in which a [[spouse]] of either [[Gender|sex]] may have more than one [[mate]] at the same time  

: polygyny:  the state or [[practice]] of having more than one [[wife]] or [[female]] mate at a time

: polygyny:  the state or [[practice]] of having more than one [[wife]] or [[female]] mate at a time

==Description==

==Description==

'''Polygamy''' (from πολύς γάμος ''polys gamos'', translated [[literally]] in Late Greek as "many married") is a [[marriage]] which includes more than two [[partners]]. When a man is married to more than one [[wife]] at a time, the relationship is called ''polygyny''; and when a woman is married to more than one [[husband]] at a time, it is called ''polyandry''. If a marriage includes multiple husbands and wives, it can be called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_marriage group or conjoint marriage]. The term is used in related ways in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anthropology social anthropology], [[sociology]], as well as in popular speech. In contrast, [[monogamy]] is a marriage consisting of only [[two]] parties. Like monogamy, the term ''polygamy'' is often used in a de facto sense, applied regardless of whether the [[relationship]] is recognized by the state. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociobiology sociobiology] and zoology, ''polygamy'' is used in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating.

'''Polygamy''' (from πολύς γάμος ''polys gamos'', translated [[literally]] in Late Greek as "many married") is a [[marriage]] which includes more than two [[partners]]. When a man is married to more than one [[wife]] at a time, the relationship is called ''polygyny''; and when a woman is married to more than one [[husband]] at a time, it is called ''polyandry''. If a marriage includes multiple husbands and wives, it can be called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_marriage group or conjoint marriage]. The term is used in related ways in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anthropology social anthropology], [[sociology]], as well as in popular speech. In contrast, [[monogamy]] is a marriage consisting of only [[two]] parties. Like monogamy, the term ''polygamy'' is often used in a de facto sense, applied regardless of whether the [[relationship]] is recognized by the state. In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociobiology sociobiology] and zoology, ''polygamy'' is used in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating.

The only form in which ''polygamy'' is legally recognised in countries which do so, is for a man to take multiple [[wives]] (''polygyny''). In those countries which do not permit ''polygamy'', a person who marries a second person while still being lawfully married is [[committing]] the crime of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigamy bigamy].

The only form in which ''polygamy'' is legally recognised in countries which do so, is for a man to take multiple [[wives]] (''polygyny''). In those countries which do not permit ''polygamy'', a person who marries a second person while still being lawfully married is [[committing]] the crime of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigamy bigamy].

In the global context, [[acceptance]] of ''polygamy'' is common. According to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Relations_Area_Files Ethnographic Atlas], of 1,231 societies noted, 186 were monogamous; 453 had occasional polygyny; 588 had more frequent polygyny; and 4 had polyandry. At the same time, even within societies which allow polygyny, the actual practice of polygyny occurs unevenly. There are exceptions: in Senegal, for example, nearly 47 percent of marriages are multiple. Within polygynous societies, multiple [[wives]] often become a [[status]] [[symbol]] denoting [[wealth]], [[power]], and [[fame]]. Polyandry is less rare than the figure commonly cited in the Ethnographic Atlas (1980) which listed only those examples found in the Himalayan Mountains. More recent studies have found 53 societies outside of the 28 found in the Himalayans which practice polyandry.[4]

In the global context, [[acceptance]] of ''polygamy'' is common. According to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Relations_Area_Files Ethnographic Atlas], of 1,231 societies noted, 186 were monogamous; 453 had occasional polygyny; 588 had more frequent polygyny; and 4 had polyandry. At the same time, even within societies which allow polygyny, the actual practice of polygyny occurs unevenly. There are exceptions: in Senegal, for example, nearly 47 percent of marriages are multiple. Within polygynous societies, multiple [[wives]] often become a [[status]] [[symbol]] denoting [[wealth]], [[power]], and [[fame]]. Polyandry is less rare than the figure commonly cited in the Ethnographic Atlas (1980) which listed only those examples found in the Himalayan Mountains. More recent studies have found 53 societies outside of the 28 found in the Himalayans which practice polyandry.[4]

Zeitzen notes that Western [[perceptions]] of African society and [[marriage]] [[patterns]] are [[biased]] by "contradictory concerns of [[nostalgia]] for traditional African culture versus critique of ''polygamy'' as oppressive to [[women]] or detrimental to development. Many international human rights organisations as well as women's rights groups in many countries have called for its abolition. The practice has been ruled to violate the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICCPR ICCPR] (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), and the United Nations has recommended that the [[practice]] be abolished.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy]

Zeitzen notes that Western [[perceptions]] of African society and [[marriage]] [[patterns]] are [[biased]] by "contradictory concerns of [[nostalgia]] for traditional African culture versus critique of ''polygamy'' as oppressive to [[women]] or detrimental to development. Many international human rights organisations as well as women's rights groups in many countries have called for its abolition. The practice has been ruled to violate the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICCPR ICCPR] (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), and the United Nations has recommended that the [[practice]] be abolished.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Marriage]]'''''

*'''''[[Marriage]]'''''