Polygamy

Lore & Background

Polygamy is defined in multiple ways depending on context. Marital polygamy occurs when an individual is married to more than one person; social polygamy involves multiple partners living together and cooperating for resources; sexual polygamy refers to multiple sexual partners; genetic polygamy results in children with different paternity. Biologists and behavioral ecologists often use polygamy to mean lack of sexual or genetic exclusivity, while social scientists typically mean marital or social polygamy. Anthropologists characterize humans as "mildly polygynous" or "monogamous with polygynous tendencies."

Reader's Guide

Polygamy's significance lies in its widespread historical and contemporary practice, especially polygyny in West and Central Africa, where countries like Burkina Faso (36%), Mali (34%), and Nigeria (28%) have high prevalence. Polygamy correlates with social class and socioeconomic status. In many countries, law recognizes only monogamous marriage, but de facto polygamy occurs through non-legal recognition of multiple partners. Anthropologist Jack Goody linked polygyny in sub-Saharan Africa to shifting horticulture and female labor, though other scholars emphasize child mortality and economic shocks. Islamic law (sharia) allows polygyny, and some countries recognize polygamous marriages only for Muslims.

Did You Know?

• The 'polygamy belt' in West and Central Africa includes Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Niger, and Nigeria.
• Polyandry was found in only 4 societies in the Ethnographic Atlas Codebook, but later research identified it in 53 communities.
• Serial monogamy can be considered a form of polygamy for anthropological reasons.