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Negative Consequences of Polygamy - Zainab AL Hammadi - Pulse - LinkedIn
Negative Consequences of Polygamy - Zainab AL Hammadi - Pulse - LinkedIn
This article will analyze and cover the issue of polygamy and how this issue affects
family structure. This essay discusses how a woman gave what she owns for sake of her
husband and then feels with pain and sufferings because there is no a real interest from
the husband. This essay explains issue of gender bias within polygamy and how a
woman may find injustice not to take her full rights. Polygamy issue is one of raised
issues recently due to women rights are violated and breached in the developing
countries. This paper presents detailed analysis on polygamy and its effects on women
and children showing different factors including social, cultural, and economic forces.
Polygamy is widespread in places where farming is main craft and needs to big labor
force. Polygamy is used as a tool to ensure social and economic stability of family. In
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addition, children themselves are also used in farming works and then they will be
backbone of their parents when they will be old age. Accordingly, some culture are
proud of polygamy and increasing number of children to ensure their social and
economic positions. In addition, some societies and culture considered polygamy as
reproductive strategy by men to increase their offspring (Hamdan and Apter. 755).
Polygamous marriages are the most popular in the rural regions and are taking place in
low educated peoples. Polygamy has reflected various differences on the couples where
coupes relationship will be more traditional than in monogamous marriages. Men are
the masters in a family in particular in the developing nations and rural regions. Men
can take decisions at any time to marry one, two, three or four wives. Marriage is more
locus of reproduction in African countries (Dodoo 232).
Noumbe gave all things that she owned to satisfy her husband Mostafa. She loved her
husband and so Noumbe " She had been hoping that he would come if only a
moment( Sembne). A woman may sacrifice with all her belongings for her husband,
but a man may not have more than two, three or four wives. Hence, some wives may
feel injustice and pains if they don't their rights as other wives. It is expected that there
is a gender bias, so that this act causes to serious consequences on the relationship
between husband and wife. Noumbe had suffered so much and waited her husband for
three days but there was no avail. Sembne said that " Noumbe forgot her illness and
her baby's ailments. She had thought about these three days in a thousand
different ways" (Sembne)
Polygamy refers also bias gender and why males are allowed to marry one wife, two or
three wives; this indicates that males have advantage in bearing responsibility, and so
that they have ability to take decisions in their marriage type. The main problem may
face wives that men are always love new wife in particularly young wife. This desire
changes in men's desire toward older wives. As in indicated in the " Her Three Days"
story as narrated by Numbe said, " Mustapha had married a younger women. This
sudden realization of the facts sent a pain to her heart, a pain of anguish."(
Sembne,).
Accordingly, older wives feel pains and sufferings that their husband has neglected
them because of his marriage of new wife. On the second hand, marriage type takes
places due to its relationship with demand of fertility whether from men or women
(Dodoo. 240). Polygamous marriage is resulted due to different causes and factors
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Wives wait the husband to visit or stand some time with them. This visit may be
regarded by any of wives that other wife will steal her husband. Numbe said " The visit
meant in fact: you stole those days from me because I am older than you"
(Sembne). Some wives may resort to change their habits and improve conditions to
satisfy the husband. They do the best in cleaning of home, preparing tasty and delicious
food, or even they may demand money as a debt in a purpose of obtaining the best
grade by the husband and to gain his love and interest. "How to make tasty little
dishes for Mustapha which cost him nothing. She never asked him for money.
Indeed, hadn't she got herself into debt in the past, when Mustapha sometimes
arrived unexpectedly. (Sembne).
It is shown in some studies that jealousy between wives may increase and escalate to
different levels even they reach up to physical injuries by women and suicide trails
among the women. Families live mainly in overcrowded conditions making aggravates
conflicts and stress between co-wives. It is confirmed that one of the biggest problem in
polygamous marriage that education attainment and academic achievement of children
as well as psychological problems of men. Many studies have made sure that there is a
close relationship between polygamy and psychological problems among children and
women inside polygamous families. Al-Sharbeni (2002) confirmed that the first wife is
affected with psychologically in polygamous marriage and hence they are vulnerable to
visit mental health centers (Al-Krenawi, and Gharaibeh 595).
In accordance with Jordanian study stressed that polygamy affected rate of drop in
school among children, escalated addiction of alcohol, juvenile delinquency as well as
causing to low self-esteem Al-Krenawi, and Gharaibeh 595). As stated in story of " Her
Three Days" that the other wife told Noumbe had to go away her children to spend a
good time with Mustapha. Ousmane said " The other wife complimented her and
insisted that Noumbe's children should go and spend a few days with her own
children" (Sembne).
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It was indicated that women who were living in polygamous marriage, have more
problems than other type of marriage " monogamy" in terms of marital problems. In
addition, polygamous women are less satisfied with their life because they feel pains,
sufferings and jealous from co-wives (Al-Krenawi and Gharaibeh. 599). Although a
wife prepare what she owns to her husband for obtaining his satisfaction, but the
husband may not mainly appreciate efforts and works of his wife. "Noumbe finished
preparing the meal, had a bath and went on to the rest of her toilette. She did her
hair again." (Sembne). Polygamous marriage introduces several pressures on the
women and problems in functioning and psychological acts (Al-Krenawi and Gharaibeh
601).
In respect with Bedouin life, it is found that Bedouin Arabian women face a great
problems and sufferings in their life in particularly relating to polygamous marriage.
Bedouin women have suffered from low self-esteem, phobias, anxiety, depression,
hostility, and somatization than women who live in monogamous families. There are
also less life satisfaction and functioning problems. Sembne said "The flame of her
dignity had been fanned on the way .to a man who seemed to have no desire to
see her and telling her self that her marriage to Mustapha was at an end. All
such factors and problems have undoubted negative influences and impacts on children
in their life in general. Children may have mental problems, social difficulties and low
educational level. In addition, child-parent relationship may be poor and not effective in
polygamous families. Family structure is a poor among all members of one family
(Hamdan and Apter 756).
In conclusion, this article examined and analyzed issue of polygamy and its negative
effects on all member of family. It is concluded that polygamy is a popular phenomenon
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in some countries in particular in Middle East region and African countries. It is existed
greatly in rural places because families need to increase number of the labor force, so
that women and children are forced to work in farming. It is shown, polygamy has
negative impacts on women and children. Polygamous women have low self-esteem,
inequality among co-wives, have mental and psychological problems. They are
suffering from physical pains and problems; while children are vulnerable to serious
consequences in their education. It is concluded that children who live in polygamous
families are low education attainment and achievement, drink alcohol, school absence,
have obstacles in social adjustment. In addition, family structure is poor among
children, co-wives and parents. Accordingly, polygamy is considered a serious social
problem may threat and damage families at any time. Therefore, this issue should be
tackled in further research to give more recommendations and solutions to avoid
communities from potential risks.
References:
Hamdan, Auerbach and Apter. Polygamy and mental health of adolescents. Eur
Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009, p 755- 756. [ 16 April 2014].
Marques, Irene. Confused Slaves of Many Traditions: The Search for the
Freedom Dance in Chizianes Niketche: A Tale of Polygamy . Research in African
literatures, Vol. 41, No. 2. 2010, P133- 142. [ 18 April 2014].
Slonim- Nevo & Al-Krenawi. Success and Failure Among Polygamous Families:
The Experience of Wives, Husbands, and Children. Family Process, Vol. 45, No. 3.
2006, P312- 313. [ 19 April 2014].
Zainab AL Hammadi
Student at Higher Colleges of Technology Follow
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