Origins and Historical background of Polygamy
As opined by Pipes (2017), culture refers to the accumulation of diverse entities of the lives of the human beings like their traditions, values, beliefs, practices, habits and others. Nurmila and Bennett (2015) are of the viewpoint that the construct of culture have been wielding a substantial amount of influence on the lives of the human beings since the traditional times. More importantly, it is seen that the practices as well as the behavior of the human beings are largely dictated by the culture or tradition to which they ascribe.
The net result of this is the fact an analysis of the different cultural traditions and the routine practices of the individuals are likely to reveal a significant amount of detail regarding the social history and also the factors which have shaped the present behavior of the modern human beings (Layish, 2017).
Chaudhary, Al-Shawaf and Buss (2018) argue that culture as well as the cultural traditions followed by the individuals contributes in a substantial manner towards the identity or the personality of the individuals. In addition to this, it is seen that the cultural practices of one culture are often repudiated or criticized by the followers of other cultures. This can be explained on the basis of the fact that the people from other cultures are unable to comprehend the significance of the practices or activities followed by the people of a particular culture or the cultural connotations of these practices. This report will analyze the cultural practice of polygamy on the basis of my own Canadian culture.
According to Zeitzen (2018), the cultural practice of polygamy refers to the activity of having more than one spouse or wives by one man. On the other hand, the same practice or activity when followed by a woman is called by the name of polyandry. Nurmila and Bennett (2015) are of the viewpoint that this is not a nascent concept and as a matter of fact the evidence for its usage dates back from the dawn of human civilization. For example, in the pre-historic times it was seen that the male members of the tribes used to keep multiple wives and their prestige as well as honor depended on the number of wives that they were able to keep (Ali, 2015).
It is pertinent to note that in the recent times because of the change in social structure, women empowerment and other factors this system has to a great degree ceased to exist within the framework of the contemporary society. However, it is seen that the people following the Islamic culture and religion still follow this cultural practice and keep multiple wives within one single house and it is completed accepted by the Islamic laws that they follow (Rørbæk, 2016).
Chaudhary, Al-Shawaf and Buss (2018) are of the viewpoint that the practice of polygamy began to be practiced by the Muslims during the “Crusade Wars” (1095 – 1291) with the Roman Catholic Church. It is pertinent to note that during this time a lot of Muslims died and there were no bread earners left in their families who could feed the women and also the children. The net result of this was the fact that the Ulamas (Islamic scholars) came up with the idea that the male individuals with enough wealth can marry the more than one woman so as to support them both financially as well as emotionally (Saeed, 2018).
Contemporary usage of Polygamy
However, this practice which was the need of the 13th century because of the crisis caused by the wars has been ingrained within the culture of the Muslims and it is seen that the Muslims even in the 21st century are resorting to the use of this practice even though the modern women are quite capable of supporting themselves both emotionally as well as financially (Zeitzen, 2018).
The practice under discussion here not only involves the male and the female individuals who are entering into the sacred bond of marriage but at the same time it directly affects the other wives of the male individual who is taking a new wife and also the family members of the people involved in the process as well (Rosen, 2018). Furthermore, it is seen that the process involves a complex social event or ceremony wherein the male and the female individual are required to take the sacred vows before the religious priests and other witnesses. This ceremony can take place in the house of the persons involved in the process or at any other convenient places.
It is pertinent to note within the Islamic culture unlike the earlier motivational factors which propelled the individuals to indulge in such a process, the contemporary Muslims indulge in such practices because of a plethora of other factors. Some of the most common motivational factors for taking the help of such a process are sexual or procreation needs of the male individuals, economic benefits, social status and others (Ali, 2015). Bartkowski et al. (2018) have stated that within the framework of the Islamic cultural tradition it is seen that the prestige as well as the social position of the male individuals are determined to a great extent by the number of wives or mates a male individual has. This is perhaps one of the major reasons for the widespread usage as well as practice of the cultural tradition of polygamy within the construct of Islamic culture.
The practice of polygamy has become an integral part of the Islamic culture and the male members of the community are required to indulge in this cultural practice. For example, it is seen that they are being taught about the importance of this practice right from their early childhood and as a matter of fact the religious texts of the Islamic religion like Quran and others support this practice (Pipes, 2017). In addition to the female individuals are also taught from a very early age the need to accept this practice and also the manner in which they should behave or act once they have entered into such kind of relationship with a man. As already mentioned, the number of wives that a man has forms an integral part of his social identity as well as reputation and this is directly related to the number of children that they are likely to have in the future times (Ali, 2015).
More importantly, the number of sons that a particular man has also contributes in a substantial manner towards the social prestige, reputation as well as power that a man is likely to hold within the framework of the contemporary Islamic society. The net result of these factors is the fact that the practice of polygamy has come to form an important part of the Islamic religion itself.
Social and Cultural Significance of Polygamy
People hold mixed opinions regarding the use the practice of polygamy and also regarding the benefits that it offers to the individuals and the society at large. For example, there are one set of people who argue that fidelity and loyalty are important attributes that both the male as well as female individuals need to follow within a particular relation and thus they should resist from the use of the process of polygamy (Chaudhary, Al-Shawaf & Buss, 2018). More important, Bartkowski et al. (2018) argue that the construct of polygamy is build in such a manner that it offers the maximum amount of benefits to the male members and as a matter of fact totally disregards the interests of the females.
Thus, these individuals are of the viewpoint that the use of the process of polygamy should be discontinued. On the other hand, there are individuals who believe that the process of polygamy forms an integral part of the Islamic religion and their cultural tradition and thus should not be discontinued (Nurmila & Bennett, 2015). These people argue on the basis of the fact that even in the 21st century the Islamic society has not changed in a substantial manner and the only possible way through which the female individuals can gain stability as well as security is by entering into a marriage bond with the male members of the society (Bartkowski et al., 2018).
I personally believe that the process of polygamy is a derogatory one and should be discontinued because of the precarious position in which they put the women. I agree with the viewpoint that during the time of the Crusade Wars it was actually the need of the hour since it was seen that the people belonging to the impoverished economic backgrounds were the ones who mainly participated in the war. Thus, the law was passed stating that the people who had the necessary economic resources and also would be able to emotionally satisfy the widowed women can take more than one wife.
However, in the 21st century the situation of the women had undergone a substantial amount of change since it is seen that the women no longer had to depend on the male members of their family or society for financial, emotion and other kinds of supports (Zeitzen, 2018). More importantly, I of the viewpoint that the modern women no longer are dependent of the male members for their identity as well as social position within the societal framework. For example, it is seen that the modern women are on par with the male members of the society not only in terms of education but the kind of job roles that they are performing and other aspects.
I believe that this practice is a gross violation of the basic human rights which are being offered to the women not only by the constitutions of the different countries of the world but at the same time the United Nations as well. For example, the “International Treaty and Convention Law” of which Canada is a signatory nation requires it to takes measures to enhance the safety as well growth of women and children (Justice.gc.ca, 2018).
Motivational Factors behind Polygamy
One of the most important precepts of the treat is the fact that the nation has “a legal obligation to respect, protect, promote and fulfill this right to non-discrimination for women and to ensure the development and advancement of women in order to improve their position to one of de jure as well as de facto equality with men” (Justice.gc.ca, 2018). In addition to this, the nation of Canada considers the right to live in a respectful manner as one of the most basic rights of the individuals and also the nation actively prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, age and other attributes.
I personally believe that the process of polygamy discriminates the women in comparison to men by allowing men the freedom to have more than one wife. This is not only derogatory but at the same time limits the freedom which is available to the female individuals in comparison to the male members of the society. This is probably one of the major reasons why the practice of polygamy is not being allowed by the national government of Canada and as a matter of fact that the people of the nation do not like to indulge in this kind of practices.
Furthermore, I would like to say that I personally believe that this is an immoral as well as unethical practice since one of the most basic vows that the individuals take during marriage are the vows of loyalty and fidelity. However, I am of the viewpoint that the men through the use of this practice are given the right to break or disregard these very basic vows of marriage which makes the process of marriage a sacred one.
To conclude, the identity as well as the practices of the individuals is determined to a great extent by the kind of cultural beliefs as well as religion that the individuals follow. In this regard, it needs to be said that the practice of polygamy is one such activity which is directly dictated by the religion as well as the cultural practices of the Muslim people. In this regard, it needs to be said that at the time of the articulation of the idea it was a much needed construct however since then the societal framework has undergone a significant amount of change and thus the framework is no longer needed. In addition to this, it is seen that this practice has been integrated into the cultural framework of the Muslim people and to a great extent determines their life and also the power as well as prestige that they hold within the society.
References
Ali, K. (2015). Sexual ethics and Islam: Feminist reflections on Qur’an, Hadith and Jurisprudence. Oneworld Publications.
Bartkowski, J. P., Acevedo, G. A., Karakeci, G., & Campbell, F. (2018). Islam and Support for Gender Inequality among Women in Turkey: Comparing Attitudes across Institutional Contexts. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 35: 4, 25.
Chaudhary, N., Al-Shawaf, L., & Buss, D. M. (2018). Mate competition in Pakistan: Mate value, mate retention, and competitor derogation. Personality and Individual Differences, 130, 141-146.
Justice.gc.ca, (2018). Polygyny As A Violation Of International Human Rights Law – Polygyny and Canada’s Obligations under International Human Rights Law [online]. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/other-autre/poly/chap3.html
Layish, A. (2017). Women and Islamic law in a non-Muslim state: A study based on decisions of the Shari’a courts in Israel. Routledge.
Nurmila, N., & Bennett, L. R. (2015). The sexual politics of polygamy in Indonesian marriage. Sex and sexualities in contemporary Indonesia: Sexual politics, health, diversity and representations, 69-87.
Pipes, D. (2017). In the path of God: Islam and political power. Routledge.
Rørbæk, L. L. (2016). Islamic Culture, Oil, and Women’s Rights Revisited. Politics and Religion, 9(1), 61-83.
Rosen, L. (2018). Islam and the Rule of Justice: Image and Reality in Muslim Law and Culture. University of Chicago Press.
Saeed, A. (2018). Islam, human rights and women. In Human Rights and Islam. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Zeitzen, M. K. (2018). Elite Malay Polygamy: Wives, Wealth and Woes in Malaysia (Vol. 41). Berghahn Books.
Zeitzen, M. K. (2018). Married but Available. Berghahn Books.
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
