In human society, the dominance of monogamous relationships wherein one man and one woman are bounded by exclusivity, is readily observed. Participation in sexual acts by any of them with another is considered infidelity or cheating. There are certain societies however that allow men to have multiple wives. This practice is referred to as polygyny.
Polygyny is defined as a marital practice wherein one man can simultaneously maintain relationships with several women. This practice is observed in certain locations and time periods such as Ancient Hebrew, Classical China, Islam, Ancient India, as well as traditional African and Polynesian cultures. Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and mainstream Christianity have been noted to expressly reject the practice.
For a relationship to be categroized as polgynous, it is not necessary for the man to marry all the women with whom he is simultaneosly having sexual relationships with. It is enough that such relationships are known to society. Abandonment of some wives is not an uncommon occurence given the physical and emotional impossibility of successfully providing equal attention to several wives as well as families.
The most popular form of polygyny is seen in countries where much importance is placed in continuing a particular male lineage such as those of kings and other powerful men. The maintenance of multiple wives and concubines to produce offsprings is quite commonplace in this situation. The arrangement provides a highly disadvantageous position to women and even children who are reduced to mere articles of property rather than treated as human beings.
Even in places where polygyny is accepted and all wives are aware of a man's shared affection, jealousy and competition have not been eradicated. This clearly shows that it takes more than cultural practice and acceptance to curb human emotions.
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