POLYGAMY’S CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES: A CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE ON CO-WIVES COPING STRATEGIES AND THEIR LINKAGES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Abstract

The study utilized an exploratory qualitative method to gather data from polygamous/Bigamous women who agreed to an in-depth interview. It aimed to examine the cultural aesthetics caused by polygamy, the results, and the coping mechanisms adopted by women to navigate to deal with co-wives’ relationships and their consequences. The paper initially looked into the key causes behind polygamy which were found to be related to infertility, having only female children, love marriage by husband, pressure from the in-laws’ families, and a desire to preserve their marriage rather than ending it. The second theme pertains to the negative effects of polygamy, such as loneliness, sadness, and jealousy brought in by injustice, Besides, these, polygamy has different perspectives too i.e benefits of it, like sharing household duties and raising children. Although polygamous women acknowledge that there are drawbacks to their lifestyle, they do not see divorce as a possibility. Whether legal think tanks & policy makers, legislators should pass laws for the protection of polygamous women since they are subject to passive injustice. To handle the stress and other effects of polygamy, through the integration of cultural studies, the study delves into the dimensions of neo-social norms, gender issues, and familial requisites in shaping the stem of polygamous marriage vis-a-vis cultural resilience and they need to be trained through various seminars and programs.