Marriages: Anthropological Perspective

Recently, Tibetan marriage has become monogamous with extended families. However, in ancient times polyandry families were common. Even today, the practice of polygamy is common in Tibet’s suburban rural areas. The mechanics of sibling polygamy are very simple. This is a form of polygamy in which a woman has multiple husbands, although in this society husbands are often siblings. Society believes in this type of marriage and has always supported it for its own reasons.

Reasons for sibling polygamy

One of the main reasons for the practice of fraternal polygamy is the belief that it prevents the splitting of family farms(Goldstein, n.d.). The family farm in this case is communally owned and has the role of uplifting their living standards as Dorje claims. The women in this marriage claim that it prevented fragmentation of family land and such a question prompts a laughter from one of the brides when asked about the fraternal polyandry. Animals in the Tibetan Society are viewed as treasures and therefore must be respected and taken care for as they hold their living standards high.

In addition, the Fraternal Polyandry in Tibetan is very similar to the one practiced in the nineteenth century in England. This means that this society has taken the practice from the earlier England people. This involved the eldest son inheriting the family property as the youngest sons are required to go out venture their own property (Goldstein, n.d). This ensured the family property was kept in lineage ownership as it maintained one heir per generation. In fraternal Polyandry, it attained this via the one wife being attached to the brothers, thereby ensuring there is only one heir per generation.

Economic Basis of the Tibetan Marriage

The Tibet Society on practicing Fraternal Polyandry base their argument for economic reasons. As Goldstein states that one of the key reasons for this kind of marriage is one heir ownership as well as preventing wealth fragmentation which involved animals too. The wife in this marriage views her husbands as a source of wealth as many men will be working for her and her children, whether in the farms or elsewhere (Goldstein, n.d.). The outcome of this is well known that an increment in the number of husbands working results in more property acquirements and such is kept within the society on the look by the eldest brother. This keeps the living standard high as it maintains the economic status of the people.

In our society marriage is not about economics but rather about the status. This has been achieved in the numerous marriages happening as well as the couple being on the hunt to look for their own wealth. The modern society marriages invoke recognition by witnesses and people as the couple gain status quo of being married.

The traditional society like the Tibet society had the appreciation of Fraternal Polyandry or polygamous marriages, this, on the contrary is different in that there are a few occurrences of polygamous marriage as they continue decreasing progressively. The modern society has no room for the Tibet Fraternal Polyandry.

Conclusion

Marriage is one of the key institution in the society. The reasons are based on the specific beliefs within a society’s culture as evidenced the Tibet Society. Some nations have currently allowed divorce and also marriage is by choice and value monogamy. Tibet Society is ruled by the economy and administration and arranged marriages who do uphold polyandry as an economic solution.

Reference

Golstein C. Melyvn (n.d) when Brothers Share a Wife among Tibetans, The Good Life Relegates Many Women to Spinsterhood (12)