[thechat] King Preaches Abstinence to Parading Maidens

Tara Cleveland tara at taracleveland.com
Fri Sep 13 10:59:01 CDT 2002


>> I agree with you - except for the presumption of it being the males
>> who should have the exclusive right to multiple partners.  There's
>> no obvious sociological reason for it, the strict genetics of the
>> issue actually demand that it should work the other way around, and
>> - let's face it - that exclusivity is basically about the relative
>> power available to men and women, in an antiquated and really-quite
>> -unpleasant way.
>
> Let a woman enjoy polygamy. After some months, when she gives birth to a
> child,
> how would you decide about the fatherhood for that child?

This is a very interesting discussion! I've been having a hard time keeping
my big mouth shut... and I can't do it any more...

Another theory for the start of  marriage is that property is the
overwhelming cause. This is how it goes...

If a man and a woman have a child, how does that man know that the child is
his? If he does not know if the child is his, who does he leave his property
to upon his death? If he marries a woman and keeps her from having sex with
other men, then he can be assured that his children are his. This is why
polygamy with women choosing more than one husband is much more rare than
polygamy with men choosing more than one wife. Apparently, the custom of
marriage originated about the same time as farming and animal husbandry, and
the ability to have and pass on property.

This is just a theory, and I'm not sure I entirely agree with it. I think
the true answer is probably a combination of all of the theories that have
been explained. And I think the reason people get married is probably
different and has always been different for each couple.

Regards,
Tara




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