Implications Of Polygamy

Polygamy
Polygamy is a custom of marrying multiple spouses. According to sociology when a man is married to more than one woman at a time it is pronounced as polygyny. On the other hand, if a woman is married to more than one man at a time it is known as polyandry and there are also plural marriages where family made out of multiple husbands and wife at a same time also called Group marriages.
Sometimes people get confused with polygamy and bigamy. Bigamy is having two wives while polygamy refers to having two or more than two wives living in the same house.

World view
Polygamy was practiced for many centuries by cultures from all over the world and was widely accepted until Roman Empire and the Roman Catholic Church imposed the law of having

As Campbell explains, ‘it is extremely difficult to draw a single, unqualified conclusion as to how women experience polygamy’.The harms integrated with polygamy often differ according to ‘the religious, customary, cultural and socio-economic context’ in which it is practiced.
Rights of Woman
West claims that the rights of woman are violated by activities of polygamy. Woman practicing polygamous lifestyle are seen to be abused by their spouse in both emotional and physical form. This may lead to some psychological disorders and a disturbed life. Verbal abuse (such as threats of physical harm, intimidating language, or degrading language). “Economic abuse”- this may include acts such as withholding basic living expenses, or failing to provide necessities such as food, clothing or shelter.
Domestic violence can cause an adverse ripple effect on the emotional and psychological state of a survivor. Panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, depression and anxiety are often ignited by domestic violence and/or other severe forms of

Children are also effected when their father show favourism among the children. Mental illness caused due to disturbed environment of the home, due to rivalry between co-wives and more children in a family means less attention and supervision from parents, especially from their fathers.
⦁ Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This condition typically includes symptoms in three categories: difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Some children with ADHD have symptoms in all of these categories, while others may have symptoms in only one.
⦁ Eating disorders. Eating disorders — such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder — are serious, even life-threatening, conditions. Children can become so preoccupied with food and weight that they focus on little else.
⦁ Mood disorders. Mood disorders — such as depression and bipolar disorder — can cause a child to feel persistent feelings of sadness or extreme mood swings much more severe than the normal mood swings common in many