Polygyny is a marriage in which one man has multiple wives. Polyandry is a marriage in which one woman has multiple husbands.
Polygamy tends to be practiced quite commonly in countries where women greatly outnumber men. Gene selection may be a factor in countries that practice polygamy. A strong, healthy male is assumed to pass on a genetic resistance to certain diseases and parasites prevalent in those countries.
Most polygamous marriages tend to focus on polygyny, in which multiple wives (sometimes called “sister wives”) share a single husband. Polygamy is accepted and legal in a number of predominately Muslim countries. [7] X Research source Norway, Great Britain, and a number of other European countries have started permitting some Muslim families who emigrated from Northern Africa and the Middle East to practice polygyny there. Muslims who practice polygamy often cite a religious precedent for polygamy from the Qur’an, which permits one man to marry up to four women. Canada has formally banned the practice of polygamy. However, members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), a known polygamous sect of the Mormon church, have practiced polygamy openly in British Columbia for some time. [8] X Research source In the United States, Utah and Colorado have historically been lenient, if not condoning, of polygamist relationships. These states have large populations of members of the FLDS. [9] X Research source Some Muslim sects in Philadelphia and other metropolitan regions along the East Coast have been known to engage in polygamous unions, though these states may be less tolerant of polygamy/bigamy. [10] X Research source In a 2003 Supreme Court ruling on same-sex relationships, it was determined that the United States government cannot intervene in certain personal, private behaviors of American citizens. The ruling also stated that laws against bigamy may be susceptible to court challenges, which many believe could open the doors to wider acceptance of polygamy. [11] X Research source In 2013 a federal judge ruled that Utah’s state-wide ban against polygamy was unconstitutional. It allowed for families with multiple spouses to live together, provided that they do not have more than one marriage license on file. [12] X Research source
Many fundamentalist Mormon practitioners legally marry one wife, then “spiritually marry” other women. Remember that spiritual marriages are not legally binding. That does not negate their significance to you and your partner(s), but the union will not be recognized by the law.
There are now dating websites that cater specifically to individuals, couples, and groups looking for other individuals or couples to date (and potentially marry). One of the most common websites for polygamist dating is Sister Wives. This U. S. -based dating service allows you to search for other individuals, couples, or groups who are open to plural marriages. [13] X Research source
You will need to have a spiritual leader or other officiant perform the spiritual unions. It may be difficult to find an officiant willing to perform the ceremony, so your best bet is to find an officiant who adheres to a polygamy-tolerant religion. Be aware that while your spiritual unions may be accepted, only the first marriage is legally recognized. Because spiritual wives are not legally recognized, none of the spiritual wives are entitled to the legal rights that come with marriage. This includes financial support, property rights (including intestate succession), workers compensation benefits, social security benefits, or wrongful death benefits. Children from spiritual marriages may not be considered “legitimate” children in the eyes of the law, and therefore may not be eligible for any legal benefits. Be aware that while spiritual marriages may be condoned, all marriages (spiritual or legal) and any other sexual relationships must be with consenting adults who are of legal age in that state. Different states have different ages of consent, so know the laws in your region before entering any relationship. You can find the age of consent laws for your state or a state you intend to relocate to by searching online.
Mistresses, like spiritual wives, are not given any legal rights or protections. They are essentially lovers that are taken by one spouse outside the marriage.
Polyamorous relationships require a great deal of communication to understand one another’s boundaries and to prevent anyone’s feelings from being hurt. Sometimes polyamorous relationships involve platonic relationships between partners. There is no right or wrong way of forming a polyamorous relationship, so long as all partners are consenting, understanding, and of legal age.
