Stepping Up

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

And so it begins:

Kody Brown is a proud polygamist, and a relatively famous one. Now Mr. Brown, his four wives and 16 children and stepchildren are going to court to keep from being punished for it.

The family is the focus of a reality TV show, “Sister Wives,” that first appeared in 2010. Law enforcement officials in the Browns’ home state, Utah, announced soon after the show began that the family was under investigation for violating the state law prohibiting polygamy.

On Wednesday, the Browns are expected to file a lawsuit to challenge the polygamy law.

The lawsuit is not demanding that states recognize polygamous marriage. Instead, the lawsuit builds on a 2003 United States Supreme Court decision, Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down state sodomy laws as unconstitutional intrusions on the “intimate conduct” of consenting adults.

I'm in favor of gay marriage for the same reason I'm in favor of legal polygamy, legalized adult incest, and all the rest - the state really shouldn't be telling anyone else who they can and cannot be in a recognized relationship with, full stop. Unfortunately, I've found that many who agree with gay marriage do not feel the same way about these other types of adult relationships.

Why is it that "equal marriage" only exists for many when it deals with their idea of reality? Should hardcore advocates of gay marriage be lining up behind the Brown family in solidarity and support of their situation? If you believe the US Constitution allows for, if not outright mandates, gay marriage, do you feel the same way here?

Comments

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

every single liberal friend I have, and a few non-liberal friends, is perfectly accepting of polygamy. Legalizing it would be fine for all of them. Most of my married friends are in fact in various forms of polyamory and it works fine for them.

The only issue i have is that child support and inheritance and succession laws would need to be altered to adequately address the possibilities.

What no one has mentioned is that the "ideal" of solo-partner unions has to do with ensuring adequate supply of females for all males, rather than heightened competition. Our birthrate ratio tends to be 50/50 thus if one man is allowed to "hoard" the women, then other males will go without. Monogamy evolved to force men to cooperate more and additionally recognize paternity more readily.

Both forms of polygamy mean that males will be more likely to compete for females either on a nuclear family level or on a society-wide level. Polygyny means many men will "lose out" on being paired, Polyandry means men will have their genetic chance of reproduction diluted and risk supporting a cuckoo's egg. Monogamy makes sense for men. Polygamy makes sense for women, regardless of which version they practice.

Me personally, I would love to join a line marriage. Too bad its illegal. As it is, I'll stick with monogamy.

[harry-beast.livejournal.com]

The calculations of win/lose for men and women seem to assume that everyone will get married and stay married. In a society where many opt to remain single, to get in and out of marriage, or to engage in adulterous liaisons, the math doesn't quite work out so cleanly.
The reality is that men will always be forced to compete for women, many will lose out on being paired or having children, and a significant number will be stuck supporting other men's children. It's already the reality. Polygamy would perhaps formalize or legitimize this process.
Monogamy has advantages for women as well, for example, it forces a man to dedicate his income and property to a single woman and her offspring, rather than diluting it with many wives.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

Do we live in the same century? Women work now, a polygamous family would have more money than a monogamous one.

Also, The reality is that men will always be forced to compete for wome



The countries in pink are the ones with more women than men.

[harry-beast.livejournal.com]

How many hard charging, successful, educated career women are interested in being the 7th wife of some bearded, fundamentalist sexagenarian patriarch? Even a monogamous marriage is a touch sell these days. And women who grow up in the colonies of polygamous sects often have restrictions on their education and career choices.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

My guess is that none of them would be; are you suggesting these women will be forced into polygamous marriages?

Again, you seem to be assuming that all polygamy is religious based and that restricting polygamy is the only way to protect women from abusive relationships. I'm 100% disagreeing with you and going so far as to call you wrong.

[harry-beast.livejournal.com]

It's the argument that is being made in the courts, and as indicated in my other comments, it isn't entirely convincing.