Glossary
Polygyny
The most common form of polygamy: one man married to several women at once, and the reason polygamy is often called having many wives.
What is polygyny?
Polygyny is the form of polygamy in which one man is married to two or more women at the same time. It’s by far the most common form of polygamy, and the reason polygamy is popularly called “having many wives”. The counterpart, where one woman has several husbands, is called polyandry.
| In Dutch | polygynie |
| Also known as | having many wives |
| What it is | one man married to several women at once |
| Category | the most common form of polygamy |
| Counterpart | polyandry, one woman with several husbands |
| In the Netherlands | banned, like every form of polygamy |
Where polygyny occurs
Polygyny is the default form of polygamy worldwide. In a survey of 1,231 societies, the vast majority that allowed polygamy did so as polygyny: 588 had frequent polygyny and 453 occasional, against only 4 with polyandry. Wikipedia puts the highest percentages in the “polygamy belt” across West and Central Africa, with countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Niger, and Nigeria. That a society allows polygyny doesn’t mean most marriages there are that way; the practice is often more limited than the rule.
Why polygyny predominates
That polygyny occurs so much more often than polyandry ties in with historical arrangements around status, property, and offspring, which in many societies fell in men’s favor. That’s also exactly where Western legal systems object to the form: where one man may have several wives but the reverse doesn’t hold, an inequality sits in the form itself. So in the Netherlands, polygyny, like polyandry, is not allowed. There’s simple arithmetic behind it too. Because roughly as many boys as girls are born, one man with several wives means other men are left without a partner. That’s why polygyny in practice is often reserved for a small group of men with a lot of status or wealth, while the majority still marry monogamously.
Where this fits on this site
Polygyny is a cultural and legal subject, not a theme of this site; the rest of this list is about polyamory and ethical non-monogamy. Do you live in an open or poly relationship and are you looking for a discreet date? Then that can happen with me, no judgment. You can read how that goes at my services.
Sources
- Polygamy. Wikipedia. Provides that polygyny is the form of polygamy where one man has several wives, the figures that of 1,231 societies 588 had frequent and 453 occasional polygyny against 4 with polyandry, and the location of the polygamy belt across West and Central Africa.
- Polygamie. Wikipedia (Dutch). Provides that every form of polygamy, polygyny included, is not allowed in the Netherlands, because you can be married to only one person at a time.
Related terms
Polygyny is a form of polygamy. The terms below place it in that frame.
- Polygamy. The overarching term for a marriage with several partners, of which polygyny is the best-known form.
- Polyandry. The rare counterpart: one woman with several husbands.
- Polyamory. The modern, egalitarian form of multiple love relationships, without marriage.
- Monogamy. The starting point of one partner at a time, the norm in the Netherlands.
- Harem. A historical context in which polygyny played a role.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about polygyny
Who can you turn to with questions about polygyny?
For legal or cultural questions, a lawyer or the municipality. Victor, a gigolo with twenty-five years of experience and a background as a psychotherapist, thinks along without judgment about relationship forms and about a discreet date outside your own circle. You can reach him through the contact form or first chat for free, no obligation.
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I'm Victor, a gigolo with a background as a psychotherapist. Polygyny itself isn't a theme of mine, but if you live poly or open and are looking for a discreet date outside your own circle, that can happen calmly and without judgment. Curious how that goes? Send me a message and I'll text you back whenever it suits you.