I know in some Asian countries particularly in Middle East, the polygamy is usual and the men have right to add wife when they want. The four wives is the maximum. In my country it is not usual and the women never accept another woman in their life but it is not illegal. The law gives right to have second wife by the permission and agreement of the first wife. If a man marries with another wife secretly, the first wife can complain against her husband and what is the punishment I don’t know.
Although polygamy is legal in Iran, it is rare because some reason. At first the very high cost of living. Second the Iranian women never accept another woman and a world war will be the result. I knew just a rich man who had 4 wives in the four corners of Iran and finally he died very soon in the middle of fighting.
I like to know is it usual in the other continent like Africa and South America? Which countries?
And is the multi husbands accepted somewhere?
@Melika
No, I didn't get this from your comment but I just wanted to show that it is a serious social problem if millions of men can't get married, so there might be reasons for allowing polyandry to secure social peace in a society. And I don't understand why many people think that polygyny is somewhat ok (talking about obedient wives) but polyandry isn't. I'm for equality and either polygamy should be forbidden or allowed for all. But I'm against allowing polygyny but forbidding polyandry.
Actually, I haven't replied to your initial question yet. In Germany polygamy is forbidden. So, if a guy with four wives moves to Germany, only one wife is accepted as the legal wife. There was the case of a refugee who came to Germany with four wives and 23 children. He had to decide with which wife he wants to live together. The other wives with their kids were relocated to other cities. In Germany, marriage with minors is also forbidden. The legal age of marriage is 18 years old. This is also to protect young girls to become child brides.
@Melika
Ok, you wrote that you can’t explain in detail but I really do wonder why you consider polyandry worse than polygyny. What’s the difference?
(hopefully not that wives should be obedient and husbands not)
@Melika
In your opinion, polyandry isn’t acceptable at all but polygyny might be when there are logical reasons? Why can’t be scarcity of food and more security for the family accepted as logical? I think polyandry makes more sense than polygyny. Especially when we think about that the earth is overpopulated and all resources are getting less.
And you know, it is a big problem in China that many men can’t get married. They already “import“ wives from poorer Asian countries. And there is a lot of human trafficking in China. Women and kids get kidnapped and sold to men on the country side. Unlogically women are also sold to other countries for prostitution: <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China</a>;.
