Types of marriage (monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, group marriage)

Marriage, as an institution, varies widely across cultures and societies. From the number of partners involved to family connections and inheritance, the structure and purpose of marriage take many forms. This article explores the diverse types of marriage, including monogamy, polygamy, levirate and sororate marriages, cousin marriages, and group marriages, each serving different social, economic, and cultural functions.

Monogamy

Monogamy is a type of marriage in which a single man marries a single woman, or vice-versa, forming a unit that is exclusive in terms of sexual and social bonding. This type of marriage is common in many societies, including the Hindu communities in India, and among tribes like the Kondh, Santhal, and Oraon.

• Characteristics:
  • Exclusive Union: In monogamy, a man and a woman are exclusively bonded, forming a stable family unit.
  • Balance in Sex Ratio: Monogamy helps maintain a balanced sex ratio, allowing almost everyone an opportunity to marry.
  • Emotional and Inheritance Stability: It allows for easier inheritance and succession rules, as well as closer emotional bonds between parents and children.
• Forms of Monogamy:
  • Serial Monogamy: A person may marry multiple times in their lifetime, but only after the previous spouse’s death. This allows for remarriage but maintains the exclusivity of a single partner at a time.
  • Non-Serial Monogamy: The individual remains married to a single partner until the death of one spouse, with no provision for remarriage.

Polygamy

Polygamy refers to marriage involving multiple partners and takes on various forms depending on the gender of the individual with multiple spouses.

• Types of Polygamy:
  • Polygyny: In polygyny, one man marries more than one woman at the same time. Reasons for its origin include economic necessity, a desire for larger families, social prestige, and the early aging of women.
    • Sororal Polygyny: The co-wives in this form are sisters, which can create a more harmonious household dynamic. This form is found among groups like the Gond and Kharia tribes.
    • Non-Sororal Polygyny: The co-wives are not related, potentially increasing the likelihood of rivalry within the household.
  • Polyandry: In polyandry, one woman marries multiple men simultaneously. Polyandry can address issues like poverty, population control, and imbalances in gender ratios.
    • Fraternal (Adelphic) Polyandry: The husbands of one wife are typically brothers or closely related by blood. This practice is observed among the Toda and Khasa communities.
    • Non-Fraternal Polyandry: The husbands are not related by blood, an example being among the Nayar community in India.
  • Group Marriage (Cenogamy): In group marriage, a set of men and women are considered collectively married to one another. Although very rare, this type of marriage has been observed among certain tribes in New Guinea, Africa, and the Toda tribe in India. It remains an unusual and mostly unviable form of marriage.

Levirate Marriage

In a levirate marriage, a widow marries her deceased husband’s brother, which serves to keep familial ties and property within the family. This custom is common among tribes in Northeast India and among some Jewish communities.

• Forms of Levirate Marriage:
  • Senior Levirate: The widow marries her deceased husband’s elder brother.
  • Junior Levirate: The widow marries her deceased husband’s younger brother.

Sororate Marriage

In a sororate marriage, a widower marries his deceased wife’s sister. This form of marriage often ensures that familial bonds are maintained and that the husband’s family does not lose its social ties with the wife’s family.

• Forms of Sororate Marriage:
  • Senior Sororate: The man marries his deceased wife’s elder sister.
  • Junior Sororate: The man marries his deceased wife’s younger sister.

Cross-Cousin Marriage

Cross-cousin marriage is a form of marriage where an individual marries a cousin from the opposite parental side. For example, a person may marry their mother’s brother’s child or their father’s sister’s child. This type of marriage is often practiced among tribes like the Kharia and Oraon in India.

Parallel-Cousin Marriage

In parallel-cousin marriage, individuals marry cousins from the same parental side. This includes marriages between a man and his father’s brother’s child or a woman and her mother’s sister’s child. The Kadar community in India practices parallel-cousin marriage.

Conclusion

Marriage is a multifaceted institution, with each type of marriage serving specific functions within a society. Whether practiced for reasons of inheritance, social prestige, familial unity, or population control, each form of marriage reflects the social, economic, and cultural values of the communities where they are practiced. From monogamy to polygamy, levirate to sororate marriages, and cousin marriages, these different marriage forms highlight the diversity of human relationships and the adaptability of marriage as a social institution.

1. How do different forms of polygamy reflect the economic and social conditions of the societies that practice them? (250 words)
2. In what ways do levirate and sororate marriages ensure social and economic stability within kinship groups? (250 words)
3. What cultural and familial values are preserved through cousin marriages, and how do they impact community structure? (250 words)