In this blog we will be discussing Polygamy vs Polyamory: Many people follow a monogamous relationship in India. A monogamous relationship is a relationship in which one male is marrying with one female. This type of relationship is more familiar than other relationships practiced in different parts of the blood.
Polygamy and Polyamory are two relationships that involve having multiple partners. Both are similar to each other in meaning. They involve several differences in terms of gender, region, social and religious status, etc.
Below are the comparisons between polygamy and polyamory relationships.
What is Polygamy?
Polygamy is a type of relationship that refers to a person with more than one marriage. This means a person has more than one life partner at the same time. It is commonly the opposite of monogamy.
There is a hierarchy of wives in this relationship, in which the first wife is most important to the husband. Other wives must show respect and politeness to the first wife.
It consists of several features which include hierarchical structure, importance of religion and culture, gender roles, and having multiple spouses.
What is Polyamory?
Polyamory is a type of relationship in which a person has multiple lovers at the same time. It is a non-monogamous relationship. Each male is aware of each female, and each female is aware of each male.
Polyamory involves all such parties with mutual consent, equal power dynamics, and open communication done honestly and transparently.
It includes various characteristics such as management of jealousy, communication, sexual health, consensual, connection of two or more two different emotions, and equality. Managing these aspects altogether is not easy and can lead to anxiety and depression, And if the remedy to anxiety and depression is not found on time it can even lead to death.
Comparison between Polygamy VS Polyamory Relationships
There are 7 comparisons between polygamy and polyamory relations. These include the following:
1)Gender
Gender is one of the primary distinctions between polyamory and polygamy. Any sex can be polyamorous, meaning they can have multiple partners. It therefore doesn’t always matter what sex the individual or their companions are.
Gender in Polygamy
It is a heterosexual type of relationship. It is divided into two types, polyandry and polygyny.
Polyandry refers to a woman with more than one husband. On the other hand, Polygyny refers to a man with more than one wife.
Gender in Polyamory
It does not depend on gender, which means a man has more than one woman and a woman has more than one man as a romantic partner. It involves all the parties which are aware of each other.
2)Region
Some regions of the world, including Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, forbid women from having more than one male companion. Men are permitted to have more than one wife, though. But those same nations forbid women from operating a vehicle and from entering some public areas.
Region in Polygamy
Females do not have permission to marry multiple male partners, whereas males have permission to marry multiple females in the region of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. These regions also prevent females from accessing education and independence in certain public places.
Thus, females do not have permission to get freedom and control of their lives in these regions.
Region in Polyamory
The polyamorous relationship is quite popular in the United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. In these regions, females have permission to get freedom to access education and control their lives.
3)Religion
Rich males can marry more than one woman in some religions and civilizations, a practice known as polygyny. But there is no strong connection between polyamory and religion. As a matter of fact, the majority of individuals who choose to engage in polyamorous relationships do not identify as religious; in fact, some of them are even rationalists or atheists.
Religion in Polygamy
Polygamy consists of two sub-cultures, Muslims and Mormons.
Some Muslims are African-Americans or non-natives in the culture of Muslim religion in the United States of America (USA). They are white individuals who are converting to Islamic religion.
Mormons are latter-day saints, who are mostly white in the USA. They are Christians, which allows men to marry multiple women in the USA.
Religion in Polyamory
Polyamory relationships are not associated with any religion. People who belong to polyamorous relationships are irrespective of religion. Some of them are considered to be even atheists or rationalists.
4)Social Perception
The majority of individuals who choose to engage in polyamorous relationships do not identify as religious; in fact, some of them are even rationalists or atheists. But there is no strong connection between polyamory and religion.
Social Perception in Polygamy
Polygamy relationships are often considered with the traditions of culture and religion in the society. This relationship is controlled by many people.
Polygamy relationship is considered illegal in most countries. This impacts negative perceptions in society.
Social Perception in Polyamory
Polyamory relationships are disapproved of or misunderstood in society because it is only related to affairs between men and women. This creates a negative impact on the monogamous relationship.
5)Structure of Relationship
Polygamy and polyamory are both forms of non-monogamous relationships, but they have distinct differences in their structure.
Structure of Relationship Polygamy
Polygamy is often limited to a person with multiple wives. The patriarchal societies consider it.
Group marriage, polyandry, and polygyny are several relationships associated with polygamy.
Structure of Relationship Polyamory
Polyamory is often associated with romantic or sexual relationships. This type of relationship is not limited to marriage.
This type of relationship is associated with various relationships such as hierarchies, triads, or quads.
6)Legal Status
The legal status of polygamy and polyamory varies across different countries and jurisdictions. In some places, these forms of relationships are legally recognized, while in others, they are prohibited.
Legal Status in Polygamy
This relationship is illegal in most countries and is considered a bigamy. A bigamy is a crime in which a person is marrying a married person. It is often related to a man with multiple wives in strict rules and regulations.
Legal Status in Polyamory
This relationship is not associated with law in which individuals face some problems in legal protection and do not get any benefits.
Domestic partnerships, civil unions, or other legal recognitions for non-married couples are recognized by the law in some states or countries.
7)Emotional Dynamics
Polygamy and polyamory are both forms of non-monogamous relationships, but they entail different emotional dynamics.
Emotional Dynamics in Polygamy
Polygamous relationships are often associated with a hierarchical structure. One spouse is considered as a primary partner, whereas the other spouse is considered as secondary in this structure. This leads to jealousy, resentment, and competition among spouses.
Emotional Dynamics in Polyamory
Polyamorous relationships are often related to trust, respect, and communication. This relationship allows strong emotional connections with multiple partners, which prioritize the needs of all the parties.
Conclusion
This blog describes the differences in polyamory vs polygamy relationships in terms of legal status, emotions, religions, etc. This identifies that polygamous relationships are much better than polyamorous relationships.
