Polygamy (Polygyny) An Agent of Social Stability

Chinasa Anya - Chinasa (Chinny) C Anya has MSc in Metallurgy from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest Romania and PhD in Metallurgy from University ...

Father and Son - unknown

Although every child has a biological father, in "Father Factor and Abatement of Social Instability in the Society", it was posited that the harnessing of the "Father Factor" for every child is nigh elusive. The adverse effects of the absence of the "Father Factor" in the development of 'fatherless' children can be reduced or eliminated by having substitute 'fathers' in their lives.

Substitute 'Fathers'

Cohabitation and step families are continually on the rise, for instance, in the UK 40% of marriages were remarriages in 2008, and between 2003 and 2011a rise of about 38% in cohabitation was projected. However, the statistics on the contribution of lone parenthood (for which the female type constitutes about 93%) to the components of social instability in the society suggest that the harnessing of Father Factor through 'substitute fathers' is not proving to be the most effective method.

The relative ineffectiveness of substitute 'fathers' may be 'father'- and/or child-related.

In the case where it is 'father'-related, for males who have never been fathers before, a study suggests that their testosterone levels are such that they are not adequately cool-headed to be in a position to nurture in the children the attributes required in those children to maintain a socially stable situation. The bi-nuclear nature of step families presents challenges to all members of the family. These challenges could be those of loyalty of stepparents/children to stepchildren/parents and bonding of step siblings.

"Father Factor" would be best harnessed when there is an ample degree of loyalty of the step child to the step father. However, step children could often be plagued by jealousy of their biological parents being with another person not biologically related to them, and of their perception of more affection being shown to their younger half-siblings by their parents. Jealousy is one of the main causes of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) in children, which if not properly addressed in time could lead to sociopathic complications in adolescence.

Polygamy (Polygyny)

First, it needs to be made clear that the nature of polygyny being advocated for in this essay is that of two consenting (non-incestuous) adults. It is neither about the spiritual reasons for, nor the subculture of polygamous relationships, as exemplified by the Mormons of USA. Given the empirical findings that "Father Factor" has a huge positive effect on children - the adults of tomorrow - this review is only about a possible social stabilising effect of polygyny in the society.

Barriers to Polygamy

It was argued that the main problem in polygamy is in ascertaining that the relationship is consensual. In many parts of the world, women, for different reasons, actually choose to be a wife of a polygamous husband. In fact, this writer has observed where these wives affectionately refer to the other wives of their husband as "my husband's wives". And as shown in the "Sister Wives" - a reality television series on TLC television channel in the USA - these women consented to the relationship. One of the reasons advanced by women for their preference of a polygamous to a monogamous union is that there is less jealousy in the former, because the man's energy is concentrated on them who have come to know each other very well (rather than on unknown mistresses outside the home) .

The main barrier to many entering, or even thinking of a polygamous marriage, is that it is a criminal offence in a good number of countries, particularly in the West. For instance, although the British law is historically against polygamy, and not until very recently against homosexuality, polygamy is still illegal. it is therefore ambivalent to still hold on to such historical prejudice against polygamy, given that the law is now liberalised in favour of homosexuality. Under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) of 1998, every individual has a right to family and private life, provided it is not injurious to the society in any of the respects listed in the article. In this regard, the only respect a consenting polygamous union may fall foul of the law is that of moral, to which homosexuality also until recently also fell foul of. If therefore the law has been liberalised for homosexuality, same should apply for polygamy.

Financial Burden of Polygyny to the Society

Some view polygamous relationships as essentially benefiting only to the man. Holding on to such a view denigrates the adult women who have made the choice to engage in the union.

Once it is established that the union is consensual, the women would be considered as wives to the man. Therefore the suggestion that the practice of polygyny imposes financial strain on the society would not arise, as the wives would no longer be treated as single mothers. Recognising polygamous unions, on the contrary, would therefore save the state the money hitherto paid to the wives as single mothers.

Polygyny: An Agent of Social Stability

Polygamous union is possibly the delight of relatively very few people in the society; for instance, this writer is one of those least inclined to it. However, consideration must be given to those people, who, if not for the criminalisation of the union, would engage in it.

As summarised above, substitute "fathers" do not allow the full harnessing of the positive effects of "Father Factor". But for those inclined to polygamous unions, the children of such unions, relative to those of lone parents, would be better placed to be nurtured not to be agents of that part of social instability attributable to the absence of fathers. The "Father Factor" would be fully utilised, assuming all other factors in the family (for example, the behaviour of the father) are favourable to social stability.

Decriminalising Polyandry

The argument for decriminalising polygyny is also valid for polyandry (marriage of a woman to more than one husband at the same time), otherwise feminists would invoke article 14 of the ECHR of 1998, which entitles everyone equal rights, without any discrimination in all respects listed in the article or other status (not listed in the article).

However, the forte of the argument to decriminalise polygyny (marriage of a man to more than one wife at the same time) derives from the empirical observations of the positive effect of "Father Factor". If "Mother Factor" were as potent as "Father Factor" in mitigating the social instability festered by lone parenthood, considering that 93% of lone parenthood (in the UK) is made up by mothers, there should be little or no social instability attributable to lone parenthood. But that is not the case, rather the society struggles through different costly socioeconomic measures to reduce the social instability attributable to lone parenthood..

In so far as article 14 enshrines equal right for all, it does not, however, give general rights against discrimination. So public authorities can justify discrimination if there is a good reason for treating people differently. The society is bigger than any individual or group of individuals. Therefore the reason of mitigating the social instability of the society attributable to lone (in particular mother) parenthood would be sufficient for polyandry not to be decriminalised. Similarly, polyandry can not be supported by the legalisation of homosexual lifestyle, as the latter has not been shown to contribute negatively to social stability.