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Polygamy in Islamic Law: Difference between revisions
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===Bride-Price (mahr)=== | ===Bride-Price (mahr)=== | ||
[[File: | [[File:Polygamydowry2.jpg|alt=Maps comparing the global distributions of polygamy and of dowry systems|thumb|450x450px|Maps comparing the global distributions of polygamy and of dowry systems]] | ||
In polygamous kinship systems marriages require that some form of dowry or bride-price be paid ([[Mahr (Marital Price)|mahr]]). This is because the scarcity of marriageable women which polygamy causes makes them into a valuable asset that can be realised when she is 'sold' in marriage. The scarcer marriageable women are the more the value of dowries rises. This makes marriage unaffordable to low-ranking young men, even if they do manage to find a bride. It is a notable feature of Arabic folk tales (such as ''<nowiki/>'One Thousand and One Nights'''), and similar tales from other polygamous societies, that their heroes are often poor young men (such as Aladdin) who love a girl, but who can not afford the bride-price required to marry her. The story is resolved when he becomes rich and powerful enough to marry her. | In polygamous kinship systems marriages require that some form of dowry or bride-price be paid ([[Mahr (Marital Price)|mahr]]). This is because the scarcity of marriageable women which polygamy causes makes them into a valuable asset that can be realised when she is 'sold' in marriage. The scarcer marriageable women are the more the value of dowries rises. This makes marriage unaffordable to low-ranking young men, even if they do manage to find a bride. It is a notable feature of Arabic folk tales (such as ''<nowiki/>'One Thousand and One Nights'''), and similar tales from other polygamous societies, that their heroes are often poor young men (such as Aladdin) who love a girl, but who can not afford the bride-price required to marry her. The story is resolved when he becomes rich and powerful enough to marry her. | ||
Nobel prize-winning economist Gary Becker argues in his book 'A Treatise on the Family'<ref>[https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674906990 A Treatise on the Family] Gary S. Becker, Harvard University Press</ref> that families of young women become the biggest supporters of polygamy because they possess an inherently scarce resource. Love matches and courtship are frowned upon because they risk reducing the bride-price (the couple may be tempted to elope, or the bride request a merely symbolic bride-price). In order to preserve their market value, young women must be veiled or sequestered and kept out of contact with young men. | Nobel prize-winning economist Gary Becker argues in his book 'A Treatise on the Family'<ref>[https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674906990 A Treatise on the Family] Gary S. Becker, Harvard University Press</ref> that families of young women become the biggest supporters of polygamy because they possess an inherently scarce resource. Love matches and courtship are frowned upon because they risk reducing the bride-price (the couple may be tempted to elope, or the bride request a merely symbolic bride-price). In order to preserve their market value, young women must be veiled or sequestered and kept out of contact with young men. | ||
===Child Marriage=== | ===Child Marriage=== | ||
[[File: | [[File:Polygamychildmarriage.jpg|alt=Maps comparing the global distributions of polygamy and of child marriage|thumb|450x450px|Maps comparing the global distribution of polygamy and of child marriage]] | ||
Child Marriage is endemic to polygynous societies. One way of alleviating the 'bride famine' that polygyny creates amongst men in the lower strata of society is to bring prepubescent girls into the marriage market. Dowry further incentives parents to sell-off their daughters before adolescence, when there is a greater risk of her reputation being spoiled and her losing her economic value. And if the bride is still a child, the dowry goes to her father, not to the bride. The bride-price for a child is generally less than for an adolescent or adult woman. This makes children a more affordable option for poor and low status men. | Child Marriage is endemic to polygynous societies. One way of alleviating the 'bride famine' that polygyny creates amongst men in the lower strata of society is to bring prepubescent girls into the marriage market. Dowry further incentives parents to sell-off their daughters before adolescence, when there is a greater risk of her reputation being spoiled and her losing her economic value. And if the bride is still a child, the dowry goes to her father, not to the bride. The bride-price for a child is generally less than for an adolescent or adult woman. This makes children a more affordable option for poor and low status men. | ||
Because of the great age differences in such marriages, and the degree of power inequality between husband and bride, the personal bond between husbands and wives is not strong and there is very little companionate marriage. | Because of the great age differences in such marriages, and the degree of power inequality between husband and bride, the personal bond between husbands and wives is not strong and there is very little companionate marriage. | ||