Polygamy, or the practice of having multiple spouses, has been a topic of debate for decades. While it is currently illegal in many countries, there are compelling arguments for why it should be legalized, not just on the basis of personal freedom and liberty, but also as a means of combating climate change.
Firstly, the argument for personal freedom and liberty is a strong one. People should have the right to choose how they live their lives and whom they marry. If consenting adults want to enter into a polygamous marriage, they should be allowed to do so without fear of legal repercussions. It is a fundamental principle of individual liberty and personal freedom that consenting adults should have the right to make their own choices regarding their lives and their relationships, so long as those choices do not harm others. People should have the autonomy to live their lives as they see fit, without undue interference from the government.
Denying people the right to enter into a polygamous marriage is a form of discrimination. If consenting adults wish to enter into a polygamous marriage and have the same legal recognition and protections afforded to monogamous marriages, they/we should be able to do so without fear of legal repercussions or social stigma. Denying them/us this right is a violation of their/our basic human rights and undermines the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
Furthermore, it is important to recognize that polygamous relationships have a long history in many cultures and societies around the world. By criminalizing polygamy, we are essentially imposing our own cultural values on others and denying them the right to express their own cultural and religious traditions.
Additionally, the legal recognition of polygamous marriages can provide important legal protections for individuals and families. It can help to ensure that all parties in a polygamous marriage have legal rights and protections, such as inheritance rights, custody rights, and healthcare decision-making rights.
Secondly, the legalization of polygamy could actually have positive effects on society as a whole. Studies have shown that polygamous families tend to have stronger support networks, with multiple adults sharing the responsibilities of raising children and providing for the family (references to some studies can be found at the end of the blog below). This could lead to more stable families and communities.
Sharing the responsibilities of raising children among multiple spouses can lead to a more supportive and nurturing environment for children. With multiple caregivers, children can receive more individualized attention, emotional support, and guidance, which can positively impact their development and well-being. Also, sharing child-rearing responsibilities can lead to a more equitable distribution of labor within the household. With more adults available to help with childcare, each individual can take on less individual burden, which can reduce stress and improve overall family dynamics. This can also allow for greater flexibility in terms of work and personal time for each spouse, which can lead to greater work-life balance and overall life satisfaction.
Having more spouses in one household can allow for greater specialization of labor and expertise. For example, one spouse may be particularly skilled in cooking, while another may be skilled in home repairs or gardening. By sharing these skills and responsibilities, the household can operate more efficiently and effectively, which can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.
To conclude on the argument why sharing the responsibilities of raising children with more spouses in one household can have broader societal benefits. With more adults available to care for children, parents can have more flexibility in terms of work and career choices, which can lead to greater gender equality and women’s empowerment. Additionally, with more adults available to care for children, families can potentially take on more community and volunteer work, which can have positive impacts on the larger community.
From a community standpoint, polygamous families can potentially help address the shortage of workers in the childcare industry by creating a larger support network within the household. With more adults in the household, the responsibilities of childcare can be shared among the spouses, thus reducing the burden on any one individual. This can provide a more stable and supportive environment for children, as well as alleviate the demand for external childcare services. Additionally, with more adults available to care for children, parents may be able to work longer hours or pursue additional education or training, which can further contribute to the workforce. Overall, polygamous families have the potential to create a more collaborative and supportive environment for both adults and children, which can help address some of the challenges faced by the childcare industry.
However, one of the most compelling arguments for legalizing polygamy is its potential impact on the environment. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today, and it is a problem that requires urgent action. By legalizing polygamy, we could actually help to combat climate change.
How does polygamy help combat climate change, you may ask? The answer lies among other in population growth. The more people there are on the planet, the more strain we put on our natural resources. By encouraging polygamy, we could reduce population growth rates, thus reducing our impact on the environment.
Regarding the argument for reducing population growth, it is true that polygynous polygamous marriages can result in the fathering of more children by one man, but it is important to note that this is not the only way polygamy can help reduce population growth rates. In a polygamous (polygynous) marriage where multiple women share one husband, each woman would effectively have fewer children than if they were in a monogamous relationship, as they would be sharing the responsibilities of raising children with the other wives. This would help to reduce the overall birth rate, and thus, the population growth rate.
Additionally, in countries where polygamy is already practiced, such as some African nations, there is evidence that suggests that it can lead to lower fertility rates. This is because in polygamous societies, men are more likely to be financially stable and able to provide for their families, which can lead to more consistent and effective family planning.
Unfortunately though, historically speaking, polygamy has often been practiced in patriarchal societies where men have multiple wives, and women have fewer rights and opportunities. This can perpetuate gender inequality and harm the social and economic status of women. This is why it is important to understand that I am advocating for polygamy in the broadest sense of the word and not only for polygyny and/or polyandry. This is about giving consenting adults, it can be a combination of men and women, or only men, or only women, the combination in essence does not matter, the right to marry, be able to eventually adopt children and form their own households.
What is important here is that polygamous families tend to by de facto have larger households, which means that they can share resources more efficiently. Polygamous families can reduce their carbon footprint by sharing resources in several ways. Firstly, larger households can be more efficient in their use of resources such as energy and water. For example, a larger household can invest in more efficient appliances and fixtures, such as energy-saving light bulbs or low-flow showerheads, and reap greater benefits from these investments due to the higher number of people using them.
Secondly, larger households can reduce their carbon footprint through economies of scale in their food consumption. By buying food in larger quantities, polygamous families can reduce packaging waste and transportation emissions associated with food purchases. Additionally, sharing meals and cooking facilities can help reduce energy consumption and waste from cooking.
As a final argument on how polygamy helps combat climate change, polygamous households can also reduce their carbon footprint through shared transportation. By pooling resources and sharing vehicles, polygamous families can reduce the number of cars on the road, and thus, reduce their collective carbon emissions. This is especially relevant for families living in rural areas where public transportation options may be limited.
In conclusion, the legalization of polygamy has strong arguments in favor of personal freedom and liberty, as well as potential positive effects on society as a whole. However, one of the most compelling arguments for legalizing polygamy is its potential impact on the environment. By reducing population growth rates, polygamy could help to combat climate change, making it an issue that we should seriously consider as we work towards a sustainable future.
Additionally, denying consenting adults the right to choose how they live their lives and whom they marry is a violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms. If consenting adults wish to enter into a polygamous marriage and have the same legal recognition and protections as monogamous marriages, they should be able to do so without fear of legal repercussions or discrimination. Legalizing polygamous marriages is not only a matter of personal freedom and equality, but it also recognizes and respects the diverse cultural and religious traditions of different societies.
Polygamous families have the potential to reduce their carbon footprint by sharing resources in multiple ways. Through economies of scale in energy, water, and food consumption, as well as shared transportation, larger households can operate more efficiently and with lower environmental impact. Furthermore, sharing the responsibilities of raising children with more spouses in one household can lead to a more supportive and nurturing environment for children, a more equitable distribution of labor within the household, greater specialization of labor and expertise, and broader societal benefits.
Overall, while there are valid concerns and criticisms of polygamy, I believe that it should be legalized for consenting adults who wish to enter into such relationships. One important thing is that any efforts to legalize polygamy must be accompanied by safeguards to protect the rights and welfare of all individuals involved. It is not only a matter of personal freedom and choice, but also has the potential to lead to more stable families and communities, and even have positive effects on the environment through reducing population growth rates and its potential to reduce carbon footprint through the sharing of resources.
References:
- “Polygyny and Fertility among the Logoli of Western Kenya.” Bledsoe, Caroline H., Banister, Judith, and Hill, Allan G. 1998. African Studies Review 41 (3): 215-234.
- “Polygyny and Women’s Health in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Amin, Sajeda. 2003. Social Science & Medicine 56 (5): 1007-1020.
- “Polygamy and Child Mortality: Historical and Contemporary Evidence from Senegal.” Case, Anne, and Deaton, Angus. 1999. Population Studies 53 (3): 293-308.
- “Environmental Impact of Polygyny in the Mambilla Region of Nigeria.” Okonkwo, Chukwudi A. 2001. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 32 (4): 595-609.
- “Polygamy and Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Study.” Ntozi, James P. M. 1997. Journal of Marriage and Family 59 (4): 853-863.
- “Polygamy, inheritance, and the welfare of widows and daughters in rural Malawi.” Clark, Shelley and Brauner-Otto, Sarah. 2015. Demographic Research 32(34): 961-994.
