Polygamy leads to social issues

POLYGAMOUS relationships lead to social problems and disorders.
Polygamy is the practice of marrying more than one person.
In nearly all instances, this takes the form of polygyny, in which a man may marry multiple wives but a woman may only marry one husband.
Researchers have found a strong link between polygamy and violence against women.
In Papua New Guinea, for instance, researchers have found a high rate of violence against women by husbands and among co-wives.
There is evidence that first wives and their children are often neglected and that when these women refuse sex they are often beaten.
The practice of polygyny is inherently discriminatory and violates a woman’s right to equality.
Polygamy is a social disorder that weakens a family unit, its structure and the value of marriage as an institution.
And the social, spiritual, psychological and economic cost of polygamy in today’s society is great.
Some young women, without thinking it through, marry men who promise them good fortune.
Even educated women fall into this trap only to later find they have been deceived.
Polygamy is one of the causes of high population growth.
This only puts strain on the government to meet the demands of its citizens.
This week in Lae, a woman was granted a K1,500 bail because she assaulted and caused harm on another women.
Both were married to the same man.
Magistrate Pious Tapil counseled the man that polygamy was becoming common and contributed to a lot of social problems.
He advised him that he had to properly end his first marriage before re-marrying to avoid conflicts.
Earlier this year, a mother of two was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for killing her husband’s mistress.
Regardless of the reasons for the offence, an offence has been committed and the accused should be dealt with according to which ever law or act it applies.
The reasons for the assault can only be considered to mitigate the punishment.
Because of his unfaithfulness, his two children will not have their mother around for the next 11 years.
If he had been faithful, the woman would not have done what she did and his mistress would have still be alive.
While the perpetrators go to prison as their penalty, the instigator is a free man.
It is time a new law is made to consider provocation in which the husband’s infidelity should be punished too.
While “it takes two to tango”, more people feel the pain of their pleasures.
Historically, many cultures have considered adultery a serious crime.
Adultery often incurred severe punishment, usually for the woman and sometimes for the man, with penalties including capital punishment, mutilation or torture.
It is high time the law reform commission revisited the current legislation on adultery and polygamy with a view to making it tougher for unfaithful husbands and wives who enjoy extramarital sex to the detriment of their aggrieved spouses and children.
Maybe it was relevant to traditional societies in the past but in the modern society, a polygamous marriage can be a real headache, a nightmare for every family member.
Every woman and child has their own story to tell.