Religion certainly plays a big part, but multiple-partner relationships aren't just symptomatic here. Supply and demand - if each man needs two wives, and each woman is only allowed one husband, women become a valuable commodity and the social definition of 'women' gradually creeps downwards through the teens.
Sure, child abuse is common in a lot of religious sects, including monogamous ones. But in the ones that require polygyny without permitting polyandry, it seems to be virtually universal.
This is about one particular implementation of multi-partner relationships; as you know I have no beef against poly as a choice between consenting adults. Unfortunately laws aimed at the former tend to hurt the latter as well.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-24 07:47 am (UTC)Sure, child abuse is common in a lot of religious sects, including monogamous ones. But in the ones that require polygyny without permitting polyandry, it seems to be virtually universal.
This is about one particular implementation of multi-partner relationships; as you know I have no beef against poly as a choice between consenting adults. Unfortunately laws aimed at the former tend to hurt the latter as well.