Verified Document

Polygamous Marriage Polygamy Is The Thesis

Objective Evaluation of Criticism of the Polygamous Lifestyle:

Aside from the arguments based solely on cultural beliefs and notions of the definition of marriage in Western society, there are also more objective criticisms to polygamous marriage. When such marriages involve the prospect of child rearing, there are issues of child welfare, at least in terms of how being raised in a polygamous family affects psychological development in the child (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2007). The main concern is that it distorts the view of marriage and family in the minds of children.

However, on closer examination, such criticisms may be less valid on any objective principle and relate more to deviation from establishes norms and biases in mainstream culture. If anything, children raised within polygamous families generally have the benefit of more parental attention rather than less, which may be particularly important given the degree to which parental attention within traditional marriages and nuclear families is often limited by the demands of professional (and other) responsibilities of parents.

Furthermore, the same rationalization was, until relatively recently, commonly used as the basis for objection to interracial marriage. Specifically, it was suggested by many that even if there was no...

In light of the evidence of what polygamous marriage entails, it would seem that where it involves only consenting adults, there is little actual justification for opposition to it, much less to criminal prohibition under penalty of criminal law.
References

Dougherty, J., Johnson, K. (2007). "Sect Leader Is Convicted as an Accomplice to Rape"

New York Times, September 26, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2009, from The New

York Times database, at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/us/26jeffs.html?_r=1

Gerrig, R., Zimbardo, P. (2007). Psychology and Life. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Allyn & Bacon.

Henslin, J. (2002). Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach Boston: Allyn

and Bacon.

Macionis, J. (2003). Sociology 9th Ed New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Witte, J. (2008). "Can America Still Bar Polygamy? Much has changed since the late

1800s, and many arguments for keeping the ban aren't very compelling"

Christianity Today. Retrieved May 14, 2009, from:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/mayweb-only/121-52.0.html

Sources used in this document:
References

Dougherty, J., Johnson, K. (2007). "Sect Leader Is Convicted as an Accomplice to Rape"

New York Times, September 26, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2009, from The New

York Times database, at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/us/26jeffs.html?_r=1
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/mayweb-only/121-52.0.html
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Polygamy Family Systems
Words: 2167 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

Polygamy On the surface, and with the most shallow of analyses, polygamy would seem to be protected by the First Amendment freedom of religion clause because polygamy in the United States is mainly a phenomenon among specific religious groups -- namely Mormons, fundamentalist Christians, and Muslims (Turley). In fact, even a polygamous marriage that was not rooted in religious tradition could be protected under the Due Process clause, which basically encompasses

Polygamy in Recent Years the Issue of
Words: 3098 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

Polygamy In recent years the issue of Polygamy has received a great deal of attention. The purpose of this discussion is to examine the practice of polygamy. The research will uncover that although polygamy has some disadvantages including family division, there are also some very real advantages associated with the practice and a balanced view of the practice is often lacking in the western world. Polygamy is defined as "marriage in which

Polygamy Began As a Practice in the
Words: 1612 Length: 5 Document Type: Research Paper

Polygamy began as a practice in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which was commonly known as the Mormon Church, between 1830s and 40s. The main reason why polygamy was common during the period was as a result of religion to multiply and replenish the earth. In 1890, plural marriages were prohibited by LDS, although the practice continued to exist in small subgroups. Polygamy is a relationship

Polygamy, Religion, and the Law
Words: 829 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Proposal

Opposition Argument: On the other hand, from the legal perspective, the argument that constitutional principles justify reconsidering the issue that polygamy (unlike human sacrifice) warrants First Amendment protections of the free exercise of religion. For one thing, the modern Supreme Court has recognized a right of privacy that emanates from the enumerated rights and privileges ever since the 1960s, that could play a role in a modern reanalysis of polygamy at law. Second,

Marriage and Family Types
Words: 1907 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Monogamous Nuclear Families, Polygamous and Communal Families Family has different connotations for different persons and cultures. In American society, the word is usually meant to denote a nuclear family consisting of a father, mother and their children. However the meaning of family in Asia is different because the family includes the grandparents, relatives and siblings of the elders. Family thus would also denote an entire clan. In African communities the Mormon

Polygamy in Colorado City Arizona
Words: 1258 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

polygamy with specific reference to its practice in the city of Colorado Arizona. Polygamy is defined as the practice of keeping one or more wives at one time, the history and studies regarding polygamy signifies the fact that early leaders used to keep one or more wives at one time, ordinary individuals also adopted this practice. Hence, polygamy became a custom and a rule in many countries of the

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now