30 XP1+9W/2 African Polygyny Family Values and Contemporary Changes Philip L. Kilbride Marriage is a cultural universal, although particular among Mormons and has also studied a phenomenon forms of marriage and family structure vary through- called"man sharing" in the African American com- out the world. In the United States, polygamy, or plu- munity. It is a controversial topic that has led him to ral marriage illegal. People have very strong some TV talk shows. But for an anthropologist to stir feelings about what marriage is supposed to be like The ideal of romantic love and lifelong monogamous marriage between people who are intimate compan- As you read this selection, ask yourself the following Ions-even nt theme in questions American culture. Yet in all societies, including our own, there are significant differences between the Why do americans think that polygamy is sociocultural ideals and social realities. Divorce is se immoral? common in american society that many anthropolo Is the author correct in saying that American men gists and sociologists say that we actually practice ht be mildly for polygyny but American serial monogamy; that is, we have more than one men are strongly against it? Why would this spouse but not at the same time. The nature of mar- riage is also being debated in our society in regard to u Even in societies that allow polygyny, most peo- gay and lesbian couples and adoption of children by e in monogamous marriages. The author says that this is because polygyny is too expen In this selection, Philip Kilbride argues that mar- sive. What social functions does marriage serve riage has much more to do with children and com that involve economic resources? munity than it does with sex. Divorce, he says, has negative effects on childrens psychological and eco- a Would the problem of deadbeat dads go away if polygyny were an option? nomic well-being. Deadbeat dads who fail to pay court-ordered child support are a major cause of the Why do Africans see the American marriage sys- impoverishment of single-parent households and are a tem, with its high frequency of divorce, as inferior national disgrace. Teenage pregnancy is yet another to traditional polygyny? Is this really from the problem to contend with chid’ s perspective? From the childs point of view, is it better to have blended families linked through plural marriages? In The following terms discussed in this selection are contemporary Africa, this subject raises lively discus- included in the Glossary at the back of the book sion-in part because it pits traditional culture against extended family polygy Christian morality and in part because marriage struc ture is a critical factor for understanding gender rela erial monogan tions. Kilbride has examined polygyny in Africa and polygamy 206