In social anthropology, polygamy is the practice of marriage to more than one spouse simultaneously (as opposed to monogamy where each person has only one spouse at a time). Like monogamy, the term is often used in a de facto sense, applying regardless of whether the relationships are recognised by the state (see marriage for a discussion on the extent to which states can and do recognise potentially and actually polygamous forms as valid).
In sociobiology, polygamy is used in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating. In a narrower sense, used by zoologists, polygamy includes a pair bond, perhaps temporary.
More on [ Polygamy ]
Cultural Anthropology :: Anthropology
Women's Rights :: Women
Polyamory
Alternative Lifestyles :: Personals
Marriage :: Relationships

Dilemma - Non-monogamy as a collective action problem. The benefits and disadvantages of different forms of marriage.
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A Brief History of Polygamy in Southern Africa - Attempts to estimate how common polygamy was in southern African rural society in the 1800's.
Anti-Polygamy.org - Refuting arguments commonly used against polygamy. Showing the unjustness of stereotyping polygamists as being in cults, abusive, and other.
Meta Description: [ Anti-Polygamy.org -- Unraveling the Tapestry of Anti-Polygamy -- Giving a Voice and a Choice for Freedom through education and truthful information ]
Cultural Practices in Conflict with Canadian Law - Recognizing existing polygamous marriages of immigrants and providing spouses with the benefits and entitlements normally available to spouses defined by Canadian law is an outstanding issue.
Meta Description: [ Chapter Three, 'Cultural
Practices in Conflict With Canadian Law,' from the 1994 Justice Canada
working document, 'Ethnocultural Groups and the Justice System in
Canada: A Review of the Issues,' by Dr. A. Currie and George
Kiefl ]
Kinship and Social Organization - Features articles and outlines of marriage customs among different societies, which also include information about polygyny.
Meta Description: [ An extensive hypertext tutorial covering kinship basics
for introductory anthropology students and undergraduate majors.
Basic topics covered include: descent, marriage, kin terms, and residence.
Employs numerous color diagrams, animations and case study
illustrations. ]
Legalize Polygamy - Short article on how polygamy would benefit us, in a secular view point. How polygamy would evolve us to higher levels.
Montesquieu: The Spirit of Laws - Article explaining that the law of polygamy is an affair that depends on calculation.
On the Economics of Polygyny - Unpublished paper from Ted Bergstrom exploring the prevalence and viability of polygamy in various societies. [Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader]
Polygamy - Types of Polygamy, Polygamy Worldwide, Patterns of Occurrence, Polygamy and Religion, Legal Situation, and The Case of Mormonism.
Polygamy at Beliefnet - Articles and opinions on polygamy. Registered users can share their personal thoughts about the issue.
Meta Description: [ Polygamous women speak out in defense of their lifestyle. ]
Polygamy.com - Includes information, personals, arguments as to why polygamy might be beneficial to women, and articles.
Meta Description: [ Polygamy information site. Articles regarding the positives and negatives of polygamists lifestyle. ]
Polygamy: Another Lovestyle - Intellectual article by Deborah Anapol about polygamy and monogamy.
Polygyny Is Already A Practice - Article about polygamy in Africa, before and after the arrival of the colonizers and Christianity.
Pro-Polygamy.com - Provides the media and others with op-eds, press releases and articles from the pro-polygamy view. Gives email-alerts and offers access to a polygamy advocate to interview.
Query On Reasons For Polygamy - A student's query regarding the differing interpretations for the cultural reasons for polygyny.
Meta Description: [ Query on reasons for polygamy ]
The Economics of Love and Marriage - Professor David Friedman's essay exploring economic issues affecting polygamy.
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Urantia Book: Plural Marriages - The evolution of marriage and plural marriages.
Meta Description: [ Urantia Book, Paper 83: Section 5 -- Plural Marriages ]
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