The issue of polygamy is one of the most controversial in the modern world. Is it inherent only to men or women too? Is it acceptable in society or should be ostracized and harassed? Let's try to understand the intricacies of the question.
About terminology and history
Polygamy, or polygamy, is the so-called polygamy or "multiple marriage." Such a definition has a given word from the beginning. However, in social terms, it acquired another interpretation: a pronounced interest in the opposite sex. In different cultures, the issue of the multitude of sexual partners is controversial. In the East, since ancient times, it was customary for a man to have a family of at least 3 wives. Moreover, in most cases, their polygamy is not a manifestation of sexual activity, but a matter of prestige. The more women a man could provide financially (to feed, give shelter and clothing, jewelry), the higher his social status was determined. Hence the huge harems with countless concubines besides official wives. Moreover, in the era of wars, internal conflicts, in order to ensure the legitimate continuity of state power, it was important for the eastern ruler to have many children. And in this case, polygamy is an urgent need, due to the harsh realities of the time, the lack of the right level of medicine and other conditions.
Religion of the East approves and supports this tradition from the moment of the emergence of Islam to this day. True, not in all countries it is legal now, but de facto, for example, in Turkey, it is flourishing. In Africa, polygamy is permitted by law. In European culture, there are different traditions. There has been a jump from polygamy to a family of two spouses. And if, for example, in ancient Judea, men had the right to take home, in addition to their wife, concubines, then later, with the establishment of Christianity, any connections on the side were perceived as a violation of moral standards.
In primitive society, when the issue of survival came first, polygamy was the norm. This determined the possibility of the genus not being destroyed. But the further Europe left from those times, the more rigid the rules and framework became. Monogamy was gaining momentum, and any campaigns "to the left" were officially condemned as a violation of decency, as treason, fornication. However, public morality was selective. Men's polygamy was recognized as one of the ways to demonstrate their biological viability, masculinity, temperament and other qualities. If women who love the attention of the opposite sex and sexual entertainment were called harlots, persecuted and punished, then men usually thus increased their authority in the eyes of society, their prestige.
In those years when the authority of the church strengthened, public morality assessed the freedom of male behavior somewhat more strictly. In times of greater secular freedom, the love of the stronger sex evoked approving and condescending smiles. And the polygamy of women, by and large, has never enjoyed recognition or approval. Exceptions can be considered the era of sexual revolutions.
A look at the question from the point of view of modernity
Nowadays, the concepts of private, personal life, personal space are becoming more common. And sexual relations before marriage, as well as numerous love affairs, are less and less regulated by public opinion. Such freedom made it possible to find out an interesting detail: women have no less need for a variety of relationships than men. In general, according to research in sociology and sexology, polygamy does not have a gender focus as such. In its pure form, this is a biological phenomenon. Monogamous exist among both men and women. As well as loving individuals. It’s just that someone has the courage to realize their sexual and biological inclinations, while someone doesn’t. Consequently, in the modern European world, the issue of female and male polygamy boils down to the individual, personal needs and inclinations of each individual.