How does polygamy work

Today, few states have laws that specifically outlaw polygamy, but all outlaw bigamy. However, few polygamists try to legally marry more than one wife. They may marry other wives in church ceremonies, but no marriage license exists. Some polygamists marry and then divorce all but one wife, but continue living and sleeping with all of them. Very few polygamists have been prosecuted.

When they are, the prosecution usually focuses on an ancillary offense, such as child abuse or welfare fraud, rather than polygamy itself. A series of raids in the s in which police arrested polygynist husbands resulted in a public relations disaster as people reacted to images of wives and children left without their fathers. Most polygamists are careful not to "officially" marry more than one wife at a time, so a bigamy conviction is virtually impossible.

Laws against cohabitation are vague, hard to enforce, and probably unconstitutional in any case. Any direct prosecution on grounds of polygamy would require one of the wives to act as a witness against the husband.

Even if the evidence were easy to come by, there are so many practicing polygamists in Utah and nearby states that the state doesn't have enough money to investigate, try and jail them all. The terms "Mormon" and "Mormonism" are sometimes controversial, as not all sects use this term to describe themselves, and not all sects practice polygamy. In common usage, anyone who follows the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr.

We'll distinguish between different sects as necessary. It's almost impossible to find hard statistics about polygamy, because plural marriages are rarely documented. Many Mormon fundamentalist sects are closed communities that shun contact with non-members. So it's difficult to determine the frequency of abuses such as marrying minors, marriages between close relatives or physical and sexual abuse. However, a wealth of anecdotal evidence suggests that these abuses often occur. In addition to such traumatic abuses, people who have left or, in their words, "escaped" polygamist families point out that the structure of such families crushes female independence.

Husbands are absolute authorities, and wives and children are completely subservient to them. Because wives are so dependent on their husband and the other wives, they often lack the life skills to live on their own. This makes it especially difficult to leave. In addition, many polygamist wives were born and raised in polygamist families.

They have been in the polygamist lifestyle from birth, so they have a hard time seeing a way out. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Zunie's polygamous marriage was not the usual kind, if there is such a thing: she married her best friend from high school.

Zunie, who already had four boys from a previous marriage, thought she could help him have a child. The couple married and Zunie fell pregnant, but it soon became apparent that the first wife was unhappy. The divorced couple remain close friends and while their son lives with Zunie, he spends time with his father and his father's first wife.

Most Muslim marriages are not polygamous and there is a debate among Muslim Malaysians about the rights and wrongs of multiple marriages. Zainah Anwar runs an international organisation called Musawah, which means "equality" in Arabic. Musawah promotes gender equality in family law systems across Muslim majority countries.

Since its creation 20 years ago, the group has argued that Islam — at its heart — upholds the equality of women. Zainah describes studying the Koran as an incredibly liberating, enlightening experience. But the end of the verse — that [says] it is best to marry only one to prevent injustice — is forgotten? Zainah says it is important to question how one interpretation of the Koran gains legitimacy at the expense of another alternative interpretation.

Qobin says his first wife's family have accepted his decision to take a second wife and his father-in-law even teases him about him taking a third wife. And would Zunie — a financially independent feminist — ever contemplate another polygamous marriage? I can live on my own, I have my boys," she says. If there was someone that loves me and could protect and provide for me — why not? Get more stories that go beyond the news cycle with our weekly newsletter. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

In most sects, members will ask his permission to form a marriage, and he will allow it or not. In the FLDS, which is the Warren Jeffs Community, it is believed that Jeffs actively arranged marriages, placing women or, as is charged, young girls with husbands according to God's determination. In order to be worthy of marriage and family, a man and his wives must be in good standing with God. Prophets have the power to "reassign" a man's wives and children if that man is deemed unrighteous.

This is believed to be a rare occurrence in most sects. The Divine Principle begins with fruitfulness. Having many children is at the core of the practice, and men and women are expected to multiply. The more wives a man has, the more children he will father. While there certainly are differences between the various sects in the details, it is within these basic guidelines that Fundamentalist Mormons practice polygamy.

It's ordered by God, guided by the prophet, and for the overarching purpose of producing children. Although, most of those practicing the principle will tell you that it is also, as much as any other marriage, about love. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. If you find yourself in a polygamous relationship and want to leave, that may present a difficult challenge and lead to numerous negative consequences for you or your children.

If you face mental health issues in your polygamous marriage or are attempting to leave one, a mental health practitioner may help. Online counseling from platforms like BetterHelp is perfectly suited to connecting you with licensed therapists who can aid you through any challenges you may be experiencing in your life.

BetterHelp counseling is highly secure, discreet, and all possible from the comfort of your own home. Numerous advanced cybersecurity measures will protect your correspondence with your therapist. To get in touch with your counselor, you can choose to communicate via text, phone, or video call. Please read what others have to say below about their experiences with BetterHelp. Ian has helped me through an incredibly intense time, and I feel as though I have come a long way from where I was six months ago, thanks to his guidance.

She is a good listener and seems to have good ideas to deal with the problems as they arise. I wish she would talk even more, though I realize I take up space talking.

I feel very good about our sessions so far, and I have learned a lot. I highly recommend her if you have issues you are dealing with, plus during covid, she has been a big help.

Source: rawpixel. Why Do People Practice Polygamy? The Rules Of Polygamy Just like any other marriage, polygamy has rules that must be followed. The Family Dynamic Source: rawpixel. Source: pexels. Search Topics. The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice.

You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional.