In this assignment, I have chosen to study polygamy in the Hawaiians culture located in the Oceania region. As the eHRAF states, In the Hawaiians culture they practice both polyandry and polygyny. In the practice of polygyny, the women are typically married only to the chiefs. This type of marriage, as the eHRAF states, is not affected by the union of two family members. Although not necessarily encouraged, it is not uncommon to marry a cousin or sister. Thus, they argue, connects the family. Polyandry is hypothesized to have originated from the number of males on the islands, being relatively high in comparison to the females. Female babies were killed at birth, known as infanticide, due to the limited role they could place in "male" responsibilities.
[BROAD INTRODUCTION] My father had two wives, although the marriages did not overlap one another. With his first wife, he had three children – two daughters and a son. With his second wife, my mother, he had two children – a son and myself. Once my father married my mother and started a family, he spent much of his time with us – only occasionally seeing his three children from his previous marriage, and rarely ever seeing his first wife. My brother and I have never seen my father’s children from his first wife, we have never spoken, we have never even met. That is my family. [NARROW INTRODUCTION] (Maghan Fatta Kon). Had this been another family, say one in Mali, the situation would be entirely different. [Bit about family dynamics.] [THESIS] Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali, written by D. T. Niane, grants readers insight into just how the practice of polygamy structures family dynamics.
The film Onka's Big Moka provided some insight into a few topics we have discussed during the course like Horticulture and Polygyny. The Kawelka are horticulturalists as they raise pigs, grow a variety of food including yams. Rather than foraging their crops allow them for permanent settlements. It is mentioned that Ongka has 4 wives. A man married to 2+ women at the same time are considered to be polygyny. The film mentions Onka got an extra wife for the capacity of work. Having more than one wife allows increase access to resources and work, which one of his wives, Rumbeka, had complained
Did you know that in the Native American culture there are different types of marriage? Being because their husband/wife died, or if the man has three wives. Sometimes within the tribe they got married and probably exchanged wives, sometimes they even shared or exchanged them! If you didn’t know just keep reading, because i’m going to explain it all to you. Enjoy!
Polygamous marriages in Tibet were the basis of an article by Melvyn Goldstein, the articles specific focus was on a unique type of marriage they practice called fraternal polyandry where several Tibetan brothers marry one wife. Age determination is the method in which each brother is place; sexual aspects of the marriage are age-related as well as how children are treated within family groups. Discussed also within the article was family planning and how these polyandry marriage are celebrated.
Then the article connects to how fraternal polyandry is similar to nineteenth century marriage in England. Even though they are similar, Tibetan “believe that in this way fraternal polyandry reduces risk of fission, monogamous marriage among brother need to necessarily precipitate the division of family estate” (“When Brothers Share a Wife”). Then the article goes into how the author of this article, Melvyn C. Goldstein, asked the Tibetan people on why they marry this way. Some said it makes the family more stable and other said that is keeps conflict from affecting
Besides that, Ramatoulaye was really strong whenever the people around her looked at her strangely. She mentioned that “I survived. I overcame my shyness at going alone to cinemas; I would take a seat with less and less embarrassment as the months went by. People stared at the middle aged lady without a partner” (p. 51). She was not carried away by what others assumed on her but she stayed strong and managed to survive. While she was alone in the cinema, her co-wife, Binetou was happily accompanied by Modou to the night club with a costly garment (Mariama, 1981). Although Modou chose to be with his second wife, Ramatoulaye did not burst into anger or fight with Binetou but she illustrated a good moral behavior by being patient and strong.
Although the various phenomena that involve multiple males involved with one female, have always been fascinating to anthropologists, there does not seem to be one common explanation for polyandry. This failure has raised questions about the similarities between the different societies in which this type of behavior is observed in. From the point of view of Berrman (1975), polyandry does not have a same manner in all societies and the basis, function, costs and consequences of polyandry must be studied individually in each society (Goldstein, 1981).
The Western Religious leaders and moralists believe only one spouse for life is the highest form of marriage. Some of the most "primitive" peoples are strictly monogamous in their ideals, while some "highly advanced" cultures have moved away from the stri...
Mention the concept of polygamy in any “civilized” gathering, and you just may be able to see the shiver of repulsion that ripples through the crowd. By substituting the word “polyamory” in, you will be able to circumvent this reaction – but only because everyone is staring at you in baffled silence instead. So we begin, as always, with definitions.
Polyandry and polygyny are the two types of polygamy. In polyandry, one woman has multiple husbands. This practice is rare and is a cultural solution used for specific problems. It is known to be practiced in the Himalayas, where men as brothers share a wife. The practice can occasionally be found in tribes of Africa, such as the Balele of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One advantage to polyandry for a tribe with limited access to land, for example, is the family land and livestock does not have to be divided as bride wealth. Bride wealth is a tradition where the husband's tribe or family would pay or compensate t...
Anthropologists study kinship because it is arguably one of the most basic components of culture. In all societies, kinship is pervasive and given sufficient population levels it is also complex. The study of kinship allows for anthropologists to understand an individual’s identity and actions. Consanguineal kinship is based on relatives who are related through blood. For example, an individual’s brother or child is their consanguineal kin. In “Polyandry: When Brothers Take a Wife,” by Melvyn C. Goldstein and in “Complexities: Beyond Nature & Nurture,” by Susan McKinnon consanguineal kinship is reviewed and analyzed in different cultures.
1. It is important to note, however, that heteronormativity is relative to the time period and culture which is under analysis, as some cultures have different renditions of gender and gender appropriations; for example the Polynesians and the concept ...
In today’s society the assumption asserts that there must be only two adults integrated in a relationship, however in polygamous environments, having more than one spouse is traditional. Some may argue that Polygamy is simply just an alternate lifestyle. This, however, ceases to be true. Young girls are being forced to marry older men and sometimes relatives. Little boys are often abandoned because it appears to be competition for older men. Children are victims of sexual and physical abuse. Whereas, for women, they generally become stripped of their money and experience competition against the multiple wives a husband. Although Polygamy is viewed as immoral by society, the main focus point should be saving young children and women because
African is so broad that it cannot be adequately in any books. As we know Africa have beautiful traditional dance, music, art, religion they also have extremely broad traditional families, which has challenging variations across Africa. African’s have their own ways to regulate their families and their society. For example Arrange marriage, patrilineality/matrilineality and practices of polygyny are the three majors distinctive variations of African traditional family. Arrange marriage is when the bride and the groom don’t know each other and their family member arrange their marriage base on their family background. Patrilineality/matrilineality mostly practices everywhere, patrilineality/matrilineality is when the family inheriting or determining descent through the male or women line. Polygyny is a distinctive feature in African traditional families, especially in the patriarchal societies; polygyny is when the husband has plural wives. As Africa was colonialism and pressures of contemporary life, their traditional family started to fall in parts.
Polygamy. The. n.d., Web. & XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5 May 2014. http://www.polygamy.com/>. The "Polygamy" - "The 'Polygamy'" US MARRIAGE LAWS. n.d. - a.k.a.