Sister wives are women who are married to the same man in a polygamous marriage. The term is used differently in different cultures, and in some countries where polygamy is illegal, it is used to express solidarity. In some cultures, the first wife has a special status. Polygamous marriages take various forms and are often associated with religious or cultural traditions. Some anthropologists believe there are benefits to polyamorous marriage, while others fear it is exploitative. The term “polygamy” can refer to a mixture of wives and husbands or a group of people married to each other.
Sisters are women who are married, as a group, to the same man. As a general rule, sisters have equal status in the relationship, each bringing their own unique talents and personalities into the marriage. Use of the term “sister wife” varies; some people describe themselves as sister-wives, for example, while in other cultures the relationship between women in a group or polygamous marriage is not expressed by this term.
In countries where polygamy is illegal, sister wives often use this term to express solidarity with each other, reinforcing the idea of being a family, even if they are not legally related. Group and polygamous marriages in cultures where this practice is frowned upon circumvent the restrictions in various ways. For example, a man might marry and divorce a series of women who all take his name and identify as sister-wives, or people might choose to marry in private ceremonies that have no legal standing.
In some cultures, the first wife has a special status, even if she identifies as a sister-wife. This reflects her long-standing relationship and may entitle her to special privileges. In other cases, the sisters are indistinguishable from each other and the identity of the first wife may be a private matter shared only between family members, to avoid disclosing her in public.
Marriages involving more than two people take a variety of forms and are often associated with religious or cultural traditions. Participants in such a marriage generally negotiate their personal boundaries and beliefs, often reinforced by the religious values surrounding marriage and marital duty. Some anthropologists believe that there are distinct benefits to polyamorous marriage, especially for the sister-wives themselves, who enjoy the support and companionship of a group of like-minded women in their daily lives. Others fear that polygamous marriage is exploitative, especially for women and girls.
Technically, the sisters are in what’s known as a polygamous marriage, meaning a multiple marriage to one man and an assortment of women. In a polyandrous marriage, a woman would be married to an assortment of men, who could conceivably identify as sibling husbands if they so chose. Some anthropologists use the term “polygamy” to refer specifically to a type of marriage in which there is a mixture of wives and husbands; for example, a woman might be married to two men and a woman. In what is known as group or circular marriage, a group of people are married to each other, with no primary spouse around whom the marriage revolves; women in such a marriage may also choose to call each other sister-wives.
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