Is Polygamy a Good Option for a Post Industrial Society - Essay Example

Is Polygamy a Good Option for a Post Industrial Society Introduction Currently, Americans and people in rest of the world are going through a phase that involves explosive human evolution, in this post-industrial society. The wave of sexual liberalization has unfolded many options for people having natural and unnatural sexual orientations. Legalization of same-sex marriages and, in certain cases, sodomy has opened the debate for legalizing the institution of polygamy. However, it is very dangerous for any country to allow polygamy. Hence, legalizing polygamy cannot be the viable option for our society. The following arguments support this thesis on the issue of polygamy. The counter arguments put forward by many supporters of this institution and feminists are detailed briefly, in the following paragraphs. Arguments in favor of ban on polygamy The following arguments support the concept of not allowing polygamy in the present society In polygamy, men treat females as inferior gender Polygamy has the basis in masculine superiority, as under this system, men possess women. In fact, in societies that allow polygamy, for example followers of Islam, the female spices are always under siege of men since their birth, be it their father, brother or husband. It indicates clearly that women do not enjoy even the basic fundamental rights of individual freedom in such societies. This clearly means that polygamy is not about having the right to choose the sexual life partner or partners, but it is all about having power and control of men over women. In addition, it does not give the same freedom to women for choosing their sex life, which was possible if polyandry was also made legal along with polygamy.(5) Financial burden on Government There is a financial burden attached to the institution of polygamy, as often a single man is not able to support the lifestyle of his different wives. This leads to additional burden on the state finances. Often, women under such system are not allowed to work outside their home, and hence there is no additional income for the family. In addition, men always feel insecure about the fidelity of their women partners, as they fear she will try to satisfy her sexual urge outside the marriage. (5) Problems for the progeny As Polygamy literally means more than one wife for a male, the result of such marriages is disastrous for the women and progeny born out of such marriages. The, women become sex slaves in their own household and their children have to fight for their rights, which depend on the favors received by respective mothers from the single father. In addition, young girls are married off to older men as their fourth, fifth or even tenth wife. This makes them sexually vulnerable, as their sex hunger remains unsatisfied. This results in more sex crimes like prostitution and brutality for young women. (1) _______________________________________________________________________ Footnotes: (1)Witte, John Jr. “Why not Polygamy?”, on faith.com, Nov. 09, 2012 (5) “Ten Reasons Why Polygamy Should be Illegal”, clearcutblogging, May 17. 2006 Polygamy can create immigration problems A single man can claim to have married a number of women in his home country and apply for spouse status for all of them in countries like USA. This is going to create an imbalance in the immigration laws and procedure, as other immigrants would feel this to be unfair to them. Over a period, such citizens can influence the voter turnout and policymaking in the favor of providing lesser and unequal rights to women. (5) However, there are arguments that suggest polygamy encourage women to have more bargaining power, at the time of marriage. According to Cowen (8), it is observed that within the polygamous societies there are many men competing for any female as most of the women are already married. Hence, the women are better placed to bargain under such system. Nevertheless, Cowen, citing Prof. Grossbard, says that once the women are married off to a single male, the society ensures that he is provided with an incentive to retain control over all his women, so that they always feel inferior to their husband.(8) ______________________________________________________________________ Footnotes: (5)“Ten Reasons Why Polygamy Should be Illegal” (8) Cowen, Tayler, “New arguments Against Polygamy”, MARGINALREVELOUTION, December Polygamy is different from same-sex marriage While advocates of polygamy stress on the fact that it should be legalized as the next step after same-sex marriage, the difference lies in the natural sexual orientation of the involved person. Gay and lesbian people mostly have such orientation by nature and since birth, where as there is nothing natural about a single man wanting to get more than one female marriage partner.(5) In addition, polygamy legalization is bound to pollute the society, as the procreation from such marriages shall have the psychological bent towards practicing polygamy. When men are not able to find enough women to marry, they may go for each other’s wives. This could be one of many negative results of legalizing this institution. However, the ban on polygamy seems to be history in the coming future, as can be seen from the American court trials, since 1965. There have been drastic changes in the American court trials and judgments, as the courts struck down many traditional sex crime cases that involved abortion, contraception and sodomy, among others, after 1965. In fact, most of the Islamic societies have been practicing polygamy since the birth of this religion and any advocacy to ban such tradition will certainly meet great resistance form such groups. Liberal societies that favor gay marriages and live-in partnerships encourage polygamy under the guise of enlightened sexual liberty and awakening. They argue that such a ban infringes upon the constitutional fundamental rights.(1) _______________________________________________________________________ footnotes: (1)Witte, John Jr. “Why not Polygamy?”, on faith.com, Nov. 09, 2012 (5) “Ten Reasons Why Polygamy Should be Illegal”, clearcutblogging, May 17. 2006 Counter-arguments, against ban on polygamy Following are some of the arguments against allowing polygamy in the present American society. Sexual liberalization The recent comments of a federal judge on an Utah law that prohibited polygamy being unconstitutional point to rising trend against the ban on polygamy throughout United States. In June 2013, the Supreme Court ruled against traditional marriages act, paving way for single-sex marriages. In one of the cases, federal court announced “men can have one or four wives”.(2) According to Goldfeder, CNN (7), the polygamous population in many Utah, Arizona and Texas townships are influencing and manipulating the political process in their states, while working behind the scene. There is strong opinion for legalizing polygamy, as proponents of the same argue that this is a constitutional right for citizens of America. According to Farrah (4), giving constitutional right for engaging in heterosexual activities would lead to doing same for legalizing the group sex and polygamy. In fact, Farrah goes further to stress that it may lead for providing constitutional right to have sex with animals and consensual incest, as well. However, Farah concludes that it cannot be the option for the people of America, as constitution does not specifically mention about he word ‘sex’ or ‘marriage’. Hence, the interpretation of such terms is open to dialogue involving American citizens at all levels. (4). footnotes: (2) Atlanta, J.F., “A not so Slippery Slope”, Gay marriage and polygamy, The Economist, 18 Dec. 2013 (4) Farah, Joseph, “What is the Argument against Polygamy”, WND COMMENTARY, 07/08/2013 (7)Goldfeder, Mark, “It’s Time to Consider Polygamy”, cnn.com, 16 December 2013 Men are sexual hunters-- argument for ban on polygamy Men by nature are seekers of adventures, including sexual encounters. Hence, they engage in polygamy. The cure to such addiction does not lie in removing the ban on polygamy. Instead, such males must learn to truly love their married partner and involve them in their, as well as, family’s intellectual ad social development. Woman have tremendous powers, if utilized properly, for giving positive shape to the family and rearing children with much needed emotional and spiritual support. In addition, polygamy brings out in the open the jealous nature of women and may lead to major and violent conflicts when huge wealth and property of single father is involved. (3) Women marry polygamous men out of their own choice---counter-argument Supporting the legalization of polygamy, Keenan (6), as a supporter of feminist voices feels that there is no compulsion for any female to marry a man who already has more than one wife. Keenan argues that women must be appreciated if they opt for marrying a Polygamous man, as she has made a different choice on her own. According to her, the family has a healthy lifestyle, under the institution of polygamy as all children are given due attention by not one but many mothers. This way they get emotional and mental support, required for their healthy growth. (6) __________________________________________________________________ footnotes: (3) “Love, Marriage and the Consumer Society”, Ideas, wizard.gen.nz, nd (6) Keenan, Jillian, “Legalize Polygamy”, slate.com, April 15, 2013 No need to put this issue under the carpet With growing dissent against polygamy ban along with the sexual liberalization, being witnessed in United States of America currently, it is proper and justified to start a debate for discussing the merits and demerits of such ban. Goldfeder (7) argues that putting this issue under the carpet may only aggravate the dangerous situation. According to him, there may be genuine and strong resistance to removing the ban on polygamy, among the majority of Americans. However, the advocates of same sex marriage and legalization of sexual acts like sodomy are working clandestinely, behind the scene and this may harm the society in the absence of any definite laws relating such issues. Ruling of Utah and Texas courts in favor of polygamy may become more common in the near future.(7) Conclusion Our society should not confuse and mix same-sex marriage with the established institution of polygamy. While sexual orientation of a person is the basis of same-sex marriage, this instinct is natural. However, under polygamy, marrying more than one wife is a custom that is man-made. In addition, religions like Islam that allow polygamy have laid great importance to the fact that men must control women-folk and equality between the two sexes is not even discussed in such societies. Allowing polygamy in the garb of sexual liberalization will only pollute our society and demean the American family values, well enshrined under our constitution. ____________________________________________________________ Footnotes: (7) Goldfeder, Mark, “It’s Time to Consider Polygamy” Bibliography Atlanta, J.F., “A not so Slippery Slope”, Gay marriage and polygamy, The Economist, 18 Dec. 2013, http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2013/12/gay-marriage-and-polygamy Cowen, Tayler, “New arguments Against Polygamy”, MARGINALREVELOUTION, December 8, http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2010/12/argument against-polygamy.html Farah, Joseph, “What is the Argument against Polygamy”, WND COMMENTARY, 07/08/2013 http://www.wnd.com/2013/07/whats-the-argument-against-polygamy/ Goldfeder, Mark, “It’s Time to Consider Polygamy”, cnn.com, 16 December 2013 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/16/opinion/goldfeder-polygamy-laws/ “Love, Marriage and the Consumer Society”, Ideas, wizard.gen.nz, nd http://www.wizard.gen.nz/love%20and%20marrage.htm Keenan, Jillian, “Legalize Polygamy”, slate.com, April 15,2013 ,http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/04/legalize_polygamy_marriage_equality_for_all.html “Ten Reasons Why Polygamy Should be Illegal”, clearcutblogging, May 17. 2006 http://clearcutblogging.blogspot.in/2006/05/ten-reasons-why-polygamy-should-be.html Witte, John Jr. “Why not Polygamy?”, on faith.com, Nov. 09, 2012 http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2012/11/09/why-not-polygamy/11389 Read More