There have sometimes been discussions of polygamy on the Forums that seem to focus on polygamy in the abstract. In this discussion, I would like to focus on polygamy as actually practiced. That's because I think that focusing on polygamy in the abstract, while interesting enough in it's own right, does not take into fair account what polygamy would look like in actual practice. And to really understand the morality of a thing, you must not merely understand it's ideal, but also it's common manifestations.
For instance, in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, there are polygamists who, in practice, marry 13 year old girls to much older men who already have multiple wives. In practice, younger men are driven from the community in order to provide the older poygamists with a supply of girls to marry, for the younger men would otherwise compete with the older polygamists for brides.
In those same communities, the polygamists are often on welfare because they cannot support all their wives and children by themselves.
Again, there are some in the Muslim community in the United States who practice polygamy. In practice, this often amounts to a man taking a second wife without the consent of his first wife, who is so dependent on his financial support that her divorcing him is simply not a realistic option for her.
Here is further information on the practical problems of polygamy:
http://eteraz.wordpress.com/2006/07/23/muslim-polygamy-in-america/#more-356
http://hedonist.progressiveislam.org/?p=81#comments
http://hedonist.progressiveislam.org/?p=82#comments
What do you think of the morality of a polygamist community driving it's young men out in order to increase the supply of brides for older men?
What do you think of the fact that many polygamists must resort to welfare to make ends meet? Is it immoral to rely on the state to support one's wives and children when the choice to have multiple wives was your own?
Ideally, polygamy would be between consenting partners only, but in practice it often seems to involve a non consenting partner or a partner too young for legal consent. How does this impact your thoughts about polygamy?
Why does there seem to be a relationship between the practice of polygamy and financially dependent women?
Are you for or against polygamy?
On what grounds are you for or against polygamy?
Is polygamy as it's practiced often immoral? If so, why? If not, why not?
For instance, in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, there are polygamists who, in practice, marry 13 year old girls to much older men who already have multiple wives. In practice, younger men are driven from the community in order to provide the older poygamists with a supply of girls to marry, for the younger men would otherwise compete with the older polygamists for brides.
In those same communities, the polygamists are often on welfare because they cannot support all their wives and children by themselves.
Again, there are some in the Muslim community in the United States who practice polygamy. In practice, this often amounts to a man taking a second wife without the consent of his first wife, who is so dependent on his financial support that her divorcing him is simply not a realistic option for her.
Here is further information on the practical problems of polygamy:
http://eteraz.wordpress.com/2006/07/23/muslim-polygamy-in-america/#more-356
http://hedonist.progressiveislam.org/?p=81#comments
http://hedonist.progressiveislam.org/?p=82#comments
What do you think of the morality of a polygamist community driving it's young men out in order to increase the supply of brides for older men?
What do you think of the fact that many polygamists must resort to welfare to make ends meet? Is it immoral to rely on the state to support one's wives and children when the choice to have multiple wives was your own?
Ideally, polygamy would be between consenting partners only, but in practice it often seems to involve a non consenting partner or a partner too young for legal consent. How does this impact your thoughts about polygamy?
Why does there seem to be a relationship between the practice of polygamy and financially dependent women?
Are you for or against polygamy?
On what grounds are you for or against polygamy?
Is polygamy as it's practiced often immoral? If so, why? If not, why not?