DAKAR, Senegal — Polygamy has strong roots in West African culture, dating back to pre-colonial times. While both tradition and religion certainly play a large role in the prevalence of polygamous relationships, the practice stems from more subtle economic and social motivations. The connection between polygamy and poverty explains its prevalence.
Sociologists suggest that collectivism — a type of culture that emphasizes community over the individual — and the resulting polygamy in West Africa may have been a necessary response to vulnerability. Since entire families can experience sudden poverty as the result of a bad harvest, having a large, supportive community safety net is critical to avoiding life-threatening consequences.
Additionally, the economic and social motivations for women to be involved in a polygamous marriage stem from their disempowered state, which is, according to UNESCO, another aspect of poverty.
Law professor and director of the Human Rights Institute at the University of Dakar Amsatou Sow Sidibe also notes the connection between polygamy and poverty, saying that it still makes sense in poor countries where men who make good livings are few.Nearly 47 percent of Senegalese marriages are polygamous, and over 46 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, as reported in a 2010 World Bank study.
Nearly 47 percent of Senegalese marriages are polygamous, and more than 46 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, as reported in a 2010 World Bank study. Being in a polygamous relationship makes economic sense for a young West African female. The Quran states that a man must not “take more wives than he can deal with justly,” meaning that accommodations must be made for each wife to have her own equally furnished and comfortable living space. Consequently, a husband who has the means to support multiple wives would certainly provide a level of financial support that many young, unmarried women would have difficulty obtaining otherwise.
There are also distinct social incentives. Since many West African communities are collectivist (as opposed to the Western “individualist” ideal), joining multiple families through marriage strengthens social fabric and creates a strong safety net throughout the community. Not only that, but as Professor Sow puts it, “For a Senegalese woman, being unmarried is not highly regarded. So they would rather share a husband than remain single.”
The social expectation that women must care for the children, as well as cook and clean, is also a contributing factor to their acceptance of polygamy. Multiple wives can team up with the overwhelming tasks of housework and childcare.
In some cases, first wives want their husband to marry again simply to have another household helper. In West African culture, the earlier-married wives enjoy precedence over the later wives, meaning they can delegate undesirable tasks.
Since polygamy is so strongly embedded in the culture, it is accepted by many women as simply another aspect of being married. However, the rates for both polygamy and poverty are in steady decline throughout the region. This indicates that both West Africans and women will see further empowerment in the years to come.
– Kailey Dubinsky
Photo: Flickr