Introduction
This essay analyzes the gender inequality, human rights, and legal context of polygamy. This essay examines Canada’s law that prohibits polygamy and assess why polygamy in not considered a religious right. Additionally, the harms and inequality of women in polygamous relationships will be discoursed, with a review of Canada’s obligation to the International Women’s Convention. Lastly, the negative psychological, health and educational impacts on children being brought up in polygamous families will be examined. Overall, this essay will demonstrate the negative effects of polygamy and argue that its criminalization in Canada is completely justified.
Polygamy in Canada: Religious freedom or crime?
In Canada, the practice of polygamy is a controversial subject regarding the violation of religious rights (Bala, 2009). Communities that practice polygamy, challenge its criminalization as a violation of their religious rights (Bala, 2009). Despite these arguments, any practice of polygamy within Canada leads to prosecution under Criminal Code section 293 (Sweet, 2013). This law puts forward the concerns of whether section 293 is consistent with the constitutional right that guarantees Canadians of the freedom of religious belief. Including concerns of whether section 293 unreasonably causes discrimination against religions that practice polygamy (Buck, 2012). However, Canada deems various harms connected to polygamy, which help justify section 293.
In Canada, polygamy is depicted as being against Canadian values and not being coherent with Canada’s national identity (Sweet, 2013). Section 293 reinforces the restrictions on religious practices to ensure they are within the boundaries of Canadian values (Sweet, 2013). It...
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...due to inadequate education (Bala, 2009). Insufficient education also causes children to become irresponsible citizens and additionally causes a negative impact to the broader society (Campbell, 2005).
In some cases, polygamous families discriminately forbid females to partake in secondary education (Buck, 2012). This act violates the right to education for these girls (Cook & Kelly, 2006). Young girls are given an education that prepares them to be the future wives and mothers, they are taught to accept the unequal role of being dominated by males (Bala, 2009). Additionally, the inadequacy of sex education given to girls can cause girls to be unaware of sexual disease and high-risk sexual practices (Cook & Kelly, 2006). Even if the polygamous girls are allowed to attend the religious schools, the likelihood of sex education is improbable (Cook & Kelly, 2006).
In fact, the number of divorces in Canada for every 100,000 people has decreased from a high of 362.3 in 1987 to 220.7 in 2005 (Wyman 1). Yet when we exclude the large and sudden jump of the Page 2 divorce rate in the 1980’s, we can see the overall national divorce rate is still gradually increasing from those of an earlier time period, which is to be expected due to the continued changes in societal norms.... ... middle of paper ... ... A senseless census reform."
In conclusion, the Wikipedia article though informative, lacks certain specific details regarding polygamy cases and communities in North America. Moreover, the credibility of the research in questionable as, these articles are not peer-reviewed and some of the sources can be unreliable. Hence, by adding this information particularly regarding the Bountiful community is fairly important to enhance readers’ knowledge regarding the controversy that divides the academic community of North America.
Polygamy is the case in which a man or a woman has multiple spouses. One branch of polygamy is termed “polygyny”, which is when “one man is married to several wives” (Zeitzen 3). In polygyny, women have become incredibly subservient because they believe being the best sister wife would mean coming closer God. This means they will obey their husbands and the prophet without question. Some of these Mormon fundamentalists reside in a tucked away community know as Bountiful, British Columbia. The women in Bountiful are being subjected to the confinements and abuse induced by their religious cult. “Some of Bountiful’s men are in there forties and fifties when they marry girls as young as fourteen” (Bramham 12). This is pertinent in showing For example; women “are programmed by their prophets to look happy... [and] are taught from birth to “keep sweet”.” (Bramham 17) This critical statement defends the idea of coercing “code[s] for blind obedience” (Bramham 195).
In Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns polygamous culture is highly accepted and legal. This acceptance stems from Mariam’s own father Jalil had 4 wives, but could not bring himself to accept his illegitimate child. Rasheed and Mariam’s marriage becomes a polygamous one when he coerces Laila into marriage. Polygamy is legal in over 100 countries mostly in the middle east and third world countries of africa. Attitudes toward polygamy in countries like the US and UK greatly contrast those in the middle East, but as TV shows like Sister wives become more accepted so does the idea. The practice of polygamy has caused some debate in the 20th century; and with the new legislation legalizing gay marriage one might say the legalization of
Fletcher-Stack, Peggy. “Polygamy: Not as Rare as You May Think.” Beliefnet. Beliefnet, Inc., 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. .
The dominant norm is a heterosexual monogamous relationship, but throughout many years, many groups of people like the gays, lesbians, transgender, and many more, have challenge this norm. It all started in the 1960’sand 1970’s where there where many societal changes and people wanted to defy the status quo. Before these dramatic changes people keep their relationships and sex life privately, women where not being sexually active unless there were marry, and sexuality was never questioned. The sexual revolutions started in the 1960’s first with the free love movement, which supported casual sexual encounters with little to no commitment. Then in the same period of time there was the second wave of feminist and people experimenting
Cruel matters such as racism, discrimination, polygamy and its influence on human trafficking exist all around the world. Particular countries are known for it more than others, nevertheless, they are happening around us just as much. At first glance, Canada may seem like an accepting and welcoming country that would not be involved with these problems. On the contrary to what most people believe, these matters exists right under our noses. Bountiful, British Columbia is an example of polygamy happening near us and not knowing it. Polygamy “is an umbrella term that refers to the state of having more than one spouse at the same time. Why is polygamy and human trafficking relevant to us? These issues surrounding polygamy are unconstitutional.
Marriage is usually considered as a tie between two individuals who love each other, but Elizabeth Joseph in the article “Polygamy - the Ultimate Feminist Lifestyle” introduced an interesting alternative for an individual who wants a person to be their spouse regardless of their marriage status. She also presents polygamy as an effective option for modern independent women to maximize their time between their career and family life. However, Joseph, as a journalist and an attorney, only mentioned the benefits of polygamy without the cons that follows it. She also admits in practicing polygamy herself. Through this we can reveal that she is not a reliable source to show that polygamy is the “ultimate lifestyle” because she is clearly biased
Since the creation of the idea of plural marriage, people have agreed and disagreed whether this practice is moral or ethical. There are many reasons against Polygamy. Whether it be religious, one’s ideology or their government’s law, some people think plural marriage to be unethical. On the other hand, people believe Polygamy to be one’s right because being in a monogamous relationship is against natural human behavior. In Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Morality as Anti-Nature”, he proclaims anything that has been taught to humans in any way, “turns, conversely, against the instincts of life: it is condemnation of these instincts, now secret, now outspoken and impudent.” (Nietzsche 348). I argue the act of Polygamy, the marriage of more than two partners, is unethical and immoral. First, I will write about the differences between cultures and how a countries view on polygamy can differ significantly. Following, I will touch on how laws define monogamy and polygamy. To conclude, I will explain why the American Government made the decision to declare polygamy moral and
In today’s world many people have had different views and ideas on what polygamy really is, is it morally wrong? In this paper you are going to learn what polygamy is, who practices it, the affects that it has on children, wives and the husbands, risk factors, and most importantly why it is morally wrong.
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.
“Polygamy is defined as a marriage in which a spouse of either gender has more than one mate at the same time. Polygamy is considered a valid form of marriage in many countries and communities around the globe” (Al-Krenawi). However, polygamy is illegal in the United States. Those who practice polygamy in America can only be “legally” married to one spouse; therefore, the subsequent spouses in a polygamist relationship hold a “singl...
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
Without education children are unable to succeed and break the cycle of poverty therefore being unable to provide for there own family and forcing there own children into the workforce like generations before.6 Child labour often continues the cycle of poverty because children are overworked and economically exploited because they are paid at the lowest rates.7Child labor violates the basic right to a primary education and economically exploits children therefore promoting the cycle of