Talk:Polygamy/Re-write

Definition of polygamy (article header)
I am not expecting these subsections to appear in the article header, but rather because this is such a thorny issue, I want to be able to distinguish the types of definitions that people are drawing from. I believe that once we have some citations in each area, we can discuss the overall definition that we'll actually put on the article page. Dunkelza 17:52 August 27, 2005 (EDT)

Anthropological Definitions
Restricted to uses in the context of the science of Anthropology/Sociology/Etc.
 * The terms "polygamy" and "polygamous" will used through this work in their recognized technical sense as referring to any form of plural marriage.


 * A polygamous family consists of two or more nuclear families affiliated by plural marriages, i.e., by having one married parent in common.

Life Sciences Definitions
Restricted to uses in the context of the science of Zoology/Biology/Etc.
 * Polygamy in the broad sense covers any form of multiple mating. ... In the narrower sense preferred by zoologists, polygamy also implies the formation of at least a temporary pair bond. Otherwise, multiple matings are commonly defined as promiscuous.


 * Monogamy is the condition in which one male and one female join to rear at least a single brood.

Vernacular Defintions
To explain confusion between common uses and "actual" definitions.

We ought to note how "polygamy" is often used as shorthand for "polygyny," for example Polygamous Mormon fundamentalists, and how the few cases of polyandry are named as such. Kewp 06:53, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

Other Formal Definitions
General Dictionaries, Philosophy, etc. Elizabeth Emens discusses the legal aspects of polygamy, mostly in the United States, and includes a gender-neutral definition of polygamy:
 * To avoid this confusion, the article uses the term "polygamy" to mean several spouses, regardless of sex.

Anthropological Definitions
Newer definitions would be nice. These will hold the place until then. From Murdock:
 * Theoretically, polygamy can assume any one of three possible forms: polygyny or the marriage of one man to two or more wives at a time, polyandry or the coexistent union of one woman with two or more men, and group marriage or a marital union embracing at once several men and several women. Of these, only the first is common.


 * polygyny:the marriage of one man to two or more wives at a time.


 * polyandry:the coexistent union of one woman with two or more men


 * group marriage:a marital union embracing at one several men and several union.


 * Of these, only the first is common.

Life Sciences Definitions

 * Details under polygyny, polyandry, group marriage?

We should wait on this until we resolve the definition section. Dunkelza 17:55 August 27, 2005 (EDT)
 * Originally, I thought waiting would be good. However, in looking up the sociobiology definition of polygamy, I found the related terms.  It was easier adding them all immediately, rather than finding them again later. Nereocystis 02:59, 29 August 2005 (UTC)


 * Simultaneous polygamy:"the matings take place at more or less the same time"


 * Polygyny:"A single male mates with more than one female."


 * Harem polygyny:"simultaneous polygyny is sometimes referred to as harem polygyny"


 * Polyandry:"mating of one female with more than one male."

Other
Emens refers to one definition of polyandry which refers to multiple men without women.


 * It is through the heterosexual assumption of marriage as including at least one man and one woman that the term "polyandry" (many men) could come to mean a group including any women at all; in other contexts, the term has been employed more literally to mean simply multiple men. See ALAN HOLLINGHURST, THE SWIMMING-POOL LIBRARY 16 (1988) ("This naked mingling, which formed a ritualistic heart to the life of the club, produced its own improper incitements to ideal liaisons, and polyandrous happenings which could not survive into the world of jackets and ties, cycle-clips and duffel-coats."). A parallel point could of course be made about "polygyny."

Related terms

 * Details under polygamy

Polygamy worldwide
- prevalence of polygamy geographically
 * Details under polygyny, polyandry, group marriage

Polygamy and religion
- history and current status within different religions
 * Details under polygyny, polyandry, group marriage

Current status of civil polygamous marriage
(formerly Legal situation) - legal status of polygamy in various locals
 * Details under polygamy

United States
Polygamous marriage is not recognized in any state in the United States. In 1878, Reynolds v. United States, a Supreme Court of the United States case, upheld laws against bigamy in United States territories.

Utah
In 2001, the state of Utah convicted Tom Green of criminal non-support and four counts of bigamy for having 5 serially monogamous marriages, while living with previous legally divorced wives. His cohabitation was considered evidence of a common-law marriage to the wives he had divorced while still living with them. That premise was subsequently affirmed by the Utah Supreme Court in State v. Green.. Green was also convicted of child rape and criminal non-support. In 2005, the state attorneys-general of Utah and Arizona issued a primer on helping victims of domestic violence and child abuse in polygamous communities. These states are emphasizing enforcement of crimes of child abuse, domestic violence, and fraud over the enforcement of the crime of bigamy. The priorities of local prosecutors are not covered by this statement.

Proponents and Opponents
- notable organizations/individuals fighting for or against polygamy
 * Details under polygamy

Polygamy in fiction
- notable works of fiction that mention polygamy
 * Details under polygamy