Marriage Patterns - Polyandry Marriage - Essay Example

In fraternal polyandry, children born are said to descendants of the eldest brother alone while in non-fraternal polyandry fatherhood is determined through a ceremony. In other cases, the children are said to have descended from all the husbands.

          I find this type of marriage unusual and unethical. This form of marriage does not have ways through which the fatherhood of the children can be determined. I find it hard that men can share a common wife without constantly fighting.

          It is practiced by the Tibetan, Marquesan, Toda, and Sherpa societies.  This form of marriage is believed to create family unity which is important if the family is seeking or wants to maintain its social-economic status since all property and land is owned by the family as a whole. The brothers are believed to live harmoniously if they share a common wife. In a woman’s point of view, there is a sense of security due to the fact that all the husbands will struggle to fend for the family.