Bahtatboy

Ok, there are loads of unwritten caveats, but assuming that we're talking about one man taking up to four wives, he's got enough money and love to share around, and it were to happen in a society that accepts it, would you or wouldn't you enter into a polygamous marriage?

I think I can predict the outcome for the fairer sex, but not sure about us blokes.

scrubbedexpat141

Don't think I would to be honest.

Don't want to sound too wet but I expect my good lady to be only mine, so I would feel like a hypocrite

Hello.Kitty

I'm sorry, but polygamy is just legalised adultery. If a man can share his lurrrrve around, then why can't his wife/ wives? Why stop at an arbitrary 4? Why bother actually getting married in the first place?

You know, really, the only difference between that chap in the UK who fathered 11 children with 5 different women (or however many it was) and a man with 4 wives and loads of sprogs is a teensy slip of paper.

Bahtatboy

How about if I throw into the mix a society where the number of men is severely depleted (through war, for example), such that there is a high number of women who could not marry, and the societal situation means that it is difficult for them to work and thereby support themselves?

scrubbedexpat141

Did you have a vivid, post-apocalyptic, polygamous, hungarian orgy style dream last night?

kittycat1

Can a woman not have multiple husbands- it actually makes more sense as a woman can multitask so can get more stuff done than one man, whereas a man has to foucs on one thing at a time (bless them)- so in fact a woman needs 4 men to get as much stuff done as one woman!

Millhouse

Would this cut the -per man - nagging down by a factor of four, or would women be able to step up their game?

Hello.Kitty

well, if society can't support the population balance that exists - for whatever reason - then it should be allowed to correct itself.

So, in the case of your example, yes, women should be left unwed (ohhh, woe is us, pining away) which would result in fewer small mouths to feed, so that all the remaining hunter-gatherer males can make sure they (or the resources) are not overstretched (obviously modern woman can actually go to the supermarket just as well as any man). Or, you could see the very monogamous post-war baby booms that happened in Western Europe.

In reality, women are by no means helpless and don't keel over and starve if there's no man around to provide for her.

Besides, in a proper apocalypse situation, you'd definitely want fewer mouths to feed.

Polygamy really is just an excuse for some people to have a bit of fun.

Autonomy

Hungarian? Do you have a thing for the Hungarians? Or am I missing something here?

Alexa

Well, since I don't do arranged marriage, no, I would not do polygamy either.

I think, since there are a lot of arranged marriages in cultures that practice polygamy, the main issue is not "love" and "he is only mine", but "how much money do I get and how much do the other women get".

Welivehere

Are you mad... I have one wife, that's enough.... Why on earth would I voluntarily inflict 3 times the workload on myself.....

Norm_uk

Probably not for me but anything consenting adults do is not my business...so as a libertarian in principle I would agree with it and polyandry provided consenting adults are involved rather than nonsensical religious teachings.

N.

ExKiwilass

So change the society, allow women to work and suppport themselves. No big deal. Lots of societies do it.

I'm most bothered by the BS that polygamy has to happen because of war. No, it doesn't. It only has to happen because a society is set up that way i.e. for the men.

scrubbedexpat141

There was something on BBC news about a German sales firm arranging loads of Hungarian hookers and a big orgy for their top boys.

WakeUp

Polygamy is not for me. Its a great fantasy but I doubt it would work fairly for anyone in reality.

Bringing extra partners into a marriage on a temporary basis however, if all are consenting is a different matter.