[ot] Polygamy abusive to women?

[kingpaul]

Heard this bit on NPR this morning. A polygamist out in Utah was tried and convicted of child rape because, 17 years ago, he married a 13 year old girl. During the interview with the prosecutor, the prosecutor said that polygamy was abusive to women. I'm just curious what others think. I'm happy with 1 wife, and wouldn't want another...but abusive?

 

[DungeonKeeperUK]

Abusive does seem a bit abusive, after all the women accept the situation too... though they may be getting at the point you don't get Women with multiple husbands (well not "legally" anyway) that I know of... but still a bit strong...

 

[hong]

I don't think there's anything wrong with polygamy at all. The more games the better, I say. Dang it, a man has the _right_ to play as many games as he wants, and to hell with the govmint or whatever telling him what to do.

What does this have to do with wives?

 

[Yuan-Ti]

after all the women accept the situation too...

Not generally. Most polygamous societies involve arranged marriages. Hence, the women are forced into the situation, and generally with an older and even MUCH older man.

Still, the idea of multiple wives (i.e., polygamy) is probably not abusive. Chances are he wanted a bad word, chose abusive, but meant something else like "degrading" or something.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Abusive does seem a bit abusive, after all the women accept the situation too...

I am not sure a 13 year old girl should be considered a woman.

My opinion: What consenting adults want to do in their bedroom is their business- just don't make it my business or the business of children and I won't care.

Of course, the guy in question was on welfare- which ranked up to be quite a lot of money with all his wives/children/and children wives.

FD

 

[DungeonKeeperUK]

Not generally. Most polygamous societies involve arranged marriages. Hence, the women are forced into the situation, and generally with an older and even MUCH older man.

ahhhh, never realised that, we don't really have any of this happening over here in the UK

 

[Frosty]

The notion of polygamy sprang from the need to provide for widows. In history men were expected to die more often then women due to risky careers such as mining, soldiering and such. 51% of all children born are male. When a man died he often left a wife and kids behind who seldom had a good chance at providing for themselves. Therefore a male relative of the deceased would wed the widow. So, originally polygamy was not seen as abusive in anyway. If anything it was regarded as somewhat heroic to provide for more people.

Now, of course, men being an evil lot they soon begun to take advantage of this practise and I can see why it is shunned upon in for example christian society. Nowadays though a lot of different family-constellations are regarded as, if not perfectly normal, at least normal enough. If the people involved concedes I don't see why it should be regarded as abusive.

In the case mentioned above; was it legal to marry thirteen year-olds in Utah 17 years ago?

 

[Vaxalon]

HIstorically, the notion of polygamy originated with authoritarian societies which needed unattached males to put in risky jobs like soldiering and mining. By marrying off the adolescent females before they can create attachments of their own, you create a large number of men who have no attachments.

 

[Frosty]

HIstorically, the notion of polygamy originated with authoritarian societies which needed unattached males to put in risky jobs like soldiering and mining. By marrying off the adolescent females before they can create attachments of their own, you create a large number of men who have no attachments.

Different perspective, eh? I agree with you Vaxalon but I think that what you describe is step two in the process and what I referred to (admitedly somewhat vaguely) as "...men being an evil lot..."

Still, I guess we disagree as I think the polygamy appeared by natural reasons and you think it was conceived and marketed by the rulers.

 

[Piratecat]

This has nothing to do with gaming whatsoever. One problem, and closed it goes, with no other warning.