In the aspect of nature, humans were often times polygamous. With many species of animals, the male leaves the female soon after mating and long before any offspring are able to be born. According to genetic studies, it is only relatively recently, that up until about 10,000 years ago that monogamy began to prevail over polygamy in human populations. Monogamous unions may have developed in tandem with sedentary agriculture, helping to preserve land as well as property within the same narrow kin group. Polygamy may enable a man to acquire more offspring, but monogamy can, in certain circumstances, represent a more successful overall reproductive strategy. In particular, by guarding a single female, a male can ensure that the female’s offspring are also for certain his and prevent the infants from being killed by male rivals who are intent on returning the female to fertility. It is a way to keep the male’s lineage of genes throughout multiple rounds of offspring. Today, most countries that endorse polygamy—invariably in the form of polygyny—are countries with a Muslim majority or sizeable Muslim minority. In some countries, such as India, polygamy is legal only for Muslims. In other countries, such as Russia and South Africa, it is not legal, but it is also not criminalized. Polygamy is illegal or criminalized across Europe and the Americas, in China, Australia, and other countries. Despite this, there are many instances of polygamy in the Western areas of the United States, especially within immigrant communities and certain religious groups like the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) and other Mormon fundamentalists. The marriage equality movement has been both the best and worst thing that could happen for legally sanctioned polygamy. The best, because that movement has required a sustained and effective assault on “traditional marriage” arguments that reflected no particular point of view other than that marriage should stay the same because it’s always been the same. In particular, the notion that procreation and child-rearing are the natural justification for marriage has been dealt a terminal injury. We don’t, after all, ban marriage for those who cannot onceive, or annul marriages that do not result in children, or make couples ‘pinkie swear’ that they will have kids not too long after they get married. We have insisted instead that the marriage institution exists to enshrine in law a special kind of long-term commitment, and to extend certain essential logistical and legal benefits to those who make that commitment. And rightly so.
In this essay, I’d like to explore (even more) the concept of polygamy, the pros and cons, how it affects people and people in polygamist relationships/families, and much more. Within beginning the research for this proposal, I have come across a plethora of information regarding this topic. Using certain sources and databases, I have learned an extreme amount of new information. Through library research, I have come across not only pictures, but interviews and videos, as well as blog posts and magazine articles (and newspaper articles) on this topic. Polygamy and the legalization of it is an extremely interesting topic to me, due to the fact that it is current, and it was present in the past as well. People today have extremely different views on this topic, some absolutely detest the idea of it and never want to make it legal, while others are more progressive and would like to legalize it and welcome the new idea with open arms. It is interesting because simply depending on your religion would determine if you think it should be legal in the world today. The question of whether polygamy is considered an abomination, or a viable alternative lifestyle, has recently resurfaced in the media. New offerings from scripted and reality television, coupled with high-profile criminal cases, have stoked the interest of the public. The debate surrounding the issue is heated and ideologically charged. For many people, it’s a question of personal freedom, while for others it is an issue of morals, of right and wrong (Opposing Viewpoints In Context). Something that I read about while researching this was that (according to Opposing View Points In Context) Research published in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy found that 50 percent of women and 60 percent of men will cheat during their marriage.”
If that is the case, could it be a possibility that polygamy could be an answer to prevent and/or hinder cheating? Should it be legalized? Why or why not? Would it be acceptable in society today, and how could we make it acceptable?
The reason why I chose the topic of polygamy and the idea of legalizing it is because I think it is an extremely interesting topic. I have never really heard about it until the last few years. I have heard of it when I was younger, however I did not really understand the concept of it. Now as I am older and a bit more educated, learning about this topic sparks my interest. It is interesting to know that polygamy has been around for centuries, and it is interesting how it is becoming a more taboo topic in today’s society. I am not personally affected nor do I partake in any polygamist actions, but I do like learning about this topic.
By researching a multitude of databases and articles on this topic, I hope to enlighten the reader regarding polygamy and present information that can help them take a side on this questionable topic. I will use interviews, articles, blogposts, and other modern-day forms of acquiring information on polygamy.
The schedule for the execution and presentation for this argument paper is as follows: The rough draft for the proposal will be due June 14th, 2018. The final draft for the proposal will be due June 19th, 2018. The annotated bibliography for this paper will be due July 5th, 2018. The rough draft of the paper (full essay) will be due July 19th, 2018. The final draft of the entire assignment (including the proposal, actual essay, and the bibliography) will be due July 24th, 2018. The oral presentation of the entirety of this information will be done on July 31st, 2018.
With my research, I hope to bring to light the topic of polygamy, and the fundamentals of it. I hope to educate the reader on this controversial idea, and possibly even give them enough information to form an opinion on it. I know that this is an extremely taboo topic in today’s society, but with my research on this topic, I also hope to be able to make my own informed decision on it. I will write about the topic and present ideas of the legalization of it. The topic of polygamy is important due to the fact that it was prevalent long ago in history, and it is still prevalent today. Society should be educated on the idea, in order to be able to stop it from being so controversial.