The moment people hear the word polygamy their minds turn to images of
"old-fashioned", "sexist", "fringe", "Mormon", and "illegal." "Polygamy", as referred
to on this site, is meant in its most popular use, where one husband has more
than one wife at the same time. Technically, Webster's Dictionary defines this
practice as "polygyny." Polygamy has been practiced by mankind for thousands
of years. Many of the ancient Israelites were polygamous, some having hundreds
of wives. King Solomonbis said to have had seven hundred wives.
The first essay we read was by Elizabeth Joseph, called My Husband's
Nine Wives, which is a short essay on her normal days, and how she has grown
from have a plural marriage with her husband. Joseph states, "compelling social
reasons" make polygamy "the life style attractive to the modern career woman."
She supports this statement by telling us that the Old Testament disapproves of
this act but it is just simply a better life style in her eyes. Joseph believes ever
since she let her husband marry again, and again for eight more times, he life has
only gotten better for herself personally. Joseph does not go into depth about it
although, she just tells us a few reasons why she likes it and then that's it.
The article I read to compare and contrast this essay with was called; "I
would Never Go Back to Being a Monogamous Wife" By Mary Batchelor,
Marianne Watson, and Anne Wilde. The three of them put one article together
with well thought of facts and personal experiences very well written. The three
women put this article on behalf of one woman who is in a Polygamous
relationship, leaving the woman's name anonymous, because this practice is
illegal. The woman states how after her husband married his second wife she
"saw my husbands eyes full of new respect and approval," she made a point to
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