Enduring Polygamy
Plural Marriage and Social Change in an African Metropolis
By Bruce Whitehouse | Publisher: Rutgers University Press
About the book
Why hasn’t polygamous marriage died out in African cities, as experts once expected it would? Enduring Polygamy considers this question in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities: Bamako, the capital of Mali, where one in four wives is in a polygamous marriage. Using polygamy as a lens through which to survey sweeping changes in urban life, it offers ethnographic and demographic insights into the customs, gender norms and hierarchies, kinship structures, and laws affecting marriage, and situates polygamy within structures of inequality that shape marital options, especially for young Malian women. Through an approach of cultural relativism, the book offers an open-minded but unflinching perspective on a contested form of marriage. Without shying away from questions of patriarchy and women’s oppression, it presents polygamy from the everyday vantage points of Bamako residents themselves, allowing readers to make informed judgments about it and to appreciate the full spectrum of human cultural diversity.
Editions of Enduring Polygamy
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781978831131
- EBook
- ISBN 9781978831155
- PDF
- ISBN 9781978831162
Read an Excerpt
Why hasn’t polygamous marriage died out in African cities, as experts once expected it would? Enduring Polygamy considers this question in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities: Bamako, the capital of Mali, where one in four wives is in a polygamous marriage. Using polygamy as a lens through which to survey sweeping changes in urban life, it offers ethnographic and demographic insights into the customs, gender norms and hierarchies, kinship structures, and laws affecting marriage, and situates polygamy within structures of inequality that shape marital options, especially for young Malian women. Through an approach of cultural relativism, the book offers an open-minded but unflinching perspective on a contested form of marriage. Without shying away from questions of patriarchy and women’s oppression, it presents polygamy from the everyday vantage points of Bamako residents themselves, allowing readers to make informed judgments about it and to appreciate the full spectrum of human cultural diversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Enduring Polygamy about?
Why hasn’t polygamous marriage died out in African cities, as experts once expected it would? Enduring Polygamy considers this question in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities: Bamako, the capital of Mali, where one in four wives is in a polygamous marriage. Using polygamy as a lens through which to survey sweeping changes in urban life, it offers ethnographic and demographic insights into the customs, gender norms and hierarchies, kinship structures, and laws affecting marriage, and situates polygamy within structures of inequality that shape marital options, especially for young Malian women. Through an approach of cultural relativism, the book offers an open-minded but unflinching perspective on a contested form of marriage. Without shying away from questions of patriarchy and women’s oppression, it presents polygamy from the everyday vantage points of Bamako residents themselves, allowing readers to make informed judgments about it and to appreciate the full spectrum of human cultural diversity.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Enduring Polygamy?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity
Where can I read a sample of Enduring Polygamy?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781978831131
Is Enduring Polygamy part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Politics of Marriage and Gender: Global Issues in Local Contexts
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Enduring Polygamy?
Bruce Whitehouse
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Enduring Polygamy is available as paperback(ISBN 9781978831131) and ebook(ISBN 9781978831155) and pdf(ISBN 9781978831162)
Where can I buy Enduring Polygamy online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Enduring Polygamy from below
Where can I buy Enduring Polygamy?