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Types of Marriages

Marriage takes different forms across societies but universally serves to establish families and regulate reproduction. The main types of marriage discussed are polygyny, polyandry, and monogamy. Polygyny allows one man to have multiple wives, either sisters (sororal) or unrelated (non-sororal). Polyandry refers to one woman having multiple husbands, either brothers (fraternal) or unrelated (non-fraternal). Monogamy, having one wife, is the most common around the world and promotes love, family stability, and higher social status for women.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
462 views

Types of Marriages

Marriage takes different forms across societies but universally serves to establish families and regulate reproduction. The main types of marriage discussed are polygyny, polyandry, and monogamy. Polygyny allows one man to have multiple wives, either sisters (sororal) or unrelated (non-sororal). Polyandry refers to one woman having multiple husbands, either brothers (fraternal) or unrelated (non-fraternal). Monogamy, having one wife, is the most common around the world and promotes love, family stability, and higher social status for women.
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Types of Marriages

Marriage is one of the universal social institutions established and nourished by human society.
It is closely connected to the institution of family. According to Gillin and Gillin, "Marriage is a
socially approved way of establishing a family of procreation." Westermarck says that marriage
is rooted in the family rather than the family in the marriage. Marriage is an institution of society
with different purpose, functions and forms in different societies but is present everywhere as an
institution. According to Malinowski, " marriage is a contract for the production and maintenance
of children." According to Robert H Lowie," Marriage is a relatively permanent bond between
permissible mates.

The main types of marriages are:

Polygyny
Polygyny is a form of marriage in which one man married more than one woman at a given time.
Polygyny is more popular than polyandry but not as universal as monogamy. It was a common
practice in ancient civilizations. At present it may be present in primitive tribes like Crow Indians,
Baigas and Gonds of India. Polygyny is of two types: 
Sororal polygyny
It is a type of marriage in which the wives are invariably the sisters. It is often called sororate.
The Latin word Soror stands for sister. When several sisters are simultaneously or potentially
the spouses of the same man the practice is called sororate. It is usually observed in those
tribes that pay a high bride price. 

Non-sororal polygyny
It is a type of marriage in which the wives are not related as the sisters. 

Polyandry
Polyandry is the marriage of one woman with several men. It is practiced among the Marquesan
Islanders of Polynesia, The Bahama of Africa and tribes of Samoa. In India among tribes of
Tiyan, Toda, Kota, Khasa and Ladakhi Bota it is still prevalent. Polyandry is of two. 

Fraternal polyandry
When several brothers share the same wife, the practice can be called fraternal polyandry. This
practice of being mate, actual or potential to one's husband's brothers is called levirate. It is
prevalent among the Todas in India. 

Non - fraternal polyandry


In this type the husbands need not have any close relationship prior to the marriage. The wife
goes to spend some time with each husband. So long as a woman lives with one of her
husbands, the others have no claim over her. Polyandry has its own implications. It gives rise to
the problem of determining biological paternity of the child. Among the Todas one of the
husbands goes through what is called a bow and arrow ceremony with the woman and thereby
becomes the legal father of her child. Among the Samoans, the children after the first few years
are given the liberty to choose their parents for their permanent stay. The selected parent
becomes the actual father of the children. 

Monogamy
Monogamy is a form of marriage in which one man marries the woman. It is most common form
of the marriage found among in the societies around the world. According to Westermarck
monogamy is as old as humanity. Monogamy is universally practiced providing marital
opportunity and satisfaction to all the individuals. It promotes love and affection between
husband and wife. It contributes to family peace, solidarity and happiness. Monogamous
marriage is stable and long lasting. It is free from conflicts that are commonly found in
polyandrous and polygamous families. Monogamous marriage gives greater attention to the
socialization of their children. Women are given very low position in polygyny where their rights
are never recognized. In monogamy women enjoy better social status. There are two types of
monogamy. 

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