Running head: POLYGAMY

Polygamy: The impact on Arab families in Israel
Laura Kline
Pennsylvania State University-York
Dr. Darling
HDFS 315Y

Abstract
Polygamy is a common form of marriage for Bedouin-Arabs in Israel. The unique structure of this form of marriage can create problems for wives and children. It can benefit the family members as well. There are multiple factors that can influence whether being in a polygamous family is advantageous or detrimental to those family members. The reasons behind polygamous marriage are examined as well.

The marriage practice known as polygamy is viewed many different ways in different societies. In societies such as our own, polygamy is seen as a taboo that is not widely understood or accepted. In fact, in the United States polygamy is not legal and polygamous marriages are not recognized. Polygamy is a general term that refers to the two types of polygamous marriages. Polygyny refers to the marriage of one man to two or more women, which is the type of polygamous marriage this paper will cover. Polyandry refers to a rare type of marriage in which one woman marries two or more men. Some other societies view polygamy as an acceptable and sometimes necessary form of marriage.
One of these societies is the Bedouin-Arabs in Israel, where polygamous marriages are common. These polygamous families are Muslim. The Islamic faith encourages men to have two or more wives if they can sufficiently support them (Al-Krenawi & Graham, 2006). Islamic faith also implies that there is great strength in blood bonds over any other types of bonds (Lev-Wiesel & Al-Krenawi, 2000). Often, parents arrange these marriages. They are based on a trade (Al-Krenawi, Graham, & Izzeldin, 2001). This demonstrates the hierarchical order maintained by the families in which the elders have control over the younger family members, and men have control over women (Lev-Wiesel & Al-Krenawi, 2000).
The Bedouin are a diverse group, but they share the values of “authoritarianism, collectivism, and patriarchy” (Al-Krenawi & Graham, 2006, p. 7). In polygynous families, the husband is the head of the households. One of the advantages of having a large polygamous family is the financial benefits that come from having multiple wives and children. However, having many wives and children can create a great deal of conflict. Belonging to a polygamous family can also create confusion for children and mothers because they belong to multiple family systems including: “sub-family, main family, extended family, and the tribe” (Lev-Wiesel & Al Krenawi, 2000, p. 101). Polygamy in Israel has both positive and negative impacts on women and children.
Reasons for Polygamous Marriages According to a quotation in Lev-Wiesel and Al-Krenawi’s article, “sociologists view polygamy as a reproductive strategy by which men maximize the number of their offspring but minimize investment in each child” (2000, p. 100). Since Islam is a highly patriarchal religion, males must have control over women and children. It is believed that a good wife will produce many children, especially male children (Lev-Wiesel & Al-Krenawi, 2000). For Arab men, the more wives they have, the more power and success they are believed to have (Al-Krenawi, Graham, & Izzeldin, 2001). Polygamy can also be an indicator of high social power (Lev-Wiesel & Al-Krenawi, 2000). It may be beneficial in areas where there are fewer men than women. Also, regions that have high levels of infant mortality may benefit from the polygamous family structure (Elbedour, Onwuegbuzie, Caridine, & Abu-Saad, 2002). Often, there is a lack of financial resources which may be why some women are willing to marry into a polygamous family (Barber, 2008). A main benefit to polygamous men is the birth of multiple sons. These sons can generate extra income by helping with their father with “domestic labor” (Al-Krenawi, Graham, & Izzeldin, 2001, p. 3). Men marry more wives in order to create these large families. The large families are not egalitarian or focused on individualism; instead they are highly group oriented, focusing on the family as a whole unit. When individuals or families do not conform to traditional norms of the religion or culture, they may be reprimanded or rejected (Al-Krenawi, Graham, & Izzeldin, 2001). For this reason, women attempt to keep their families together despite the problems they typically face (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2001).
Negative Impacts of Polygamy on Arab Women in Israel
Women in polygamous marriages may face many problems throughout the course of their marriage. Some of these problems include abuse, psychological distress, low self-esteem, and marital discord. Physiological problems such as decreased immune functioning and cardiovascular issues are also common in women from polygamous marriages. The frequent marital conflict and distress can cause emotional harm to these women. According to Elbedour, Onwuegbuzie, Caridine, and Abu-Saad, (2002, p. 259) “polygamous marriages are more likely than are monogamous marriages to be torn by spousal conflict, tension, and jealousy.” Mental illness and other psychiatric disorders have been linked to women in polygamous marriages. Husbands may also misuse polygamy which can result in the physical or mental abuse or violation of their wives (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2001). Men can misuse polygamy by treating their wives unequally.
These women frequently feel discontented with their marriages. They are often unable to receive the necessary emotional support from their husband (Al-Krenawi, Graham, & Izzeldin, 2001). Discontent with the marriage often increases with the addition of wives. Often, wife-order influences satisfaction wives experience in their polygamous marriage (Elbedour et al., 2002). Elbedour et al. (2002, p. 261) explained, “senior wives whose husbands marry subsequent wives often perceive themselves as having failed to meet the standards set by their husband and the community regarding being a successful wife.”
The senior wives often have a poorer self-concept when their husbands perceive them as old (Elbedour et al., 2002). Many women see the addition of another wife or wives as an inconvenience and view them as a competitor (Agadjanian & Ezeh, 2000). The Arabic word for a co wife is ‘darah,’ which means “one who makes trouble” (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2001, p. 737). This clearly shows that women typically do not like being one of multiple wives. Fights may occur between the wives due to jealousy, competition, or clashing personalities (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2001).
Women in polygamous marriages often have lower levels of education than women in monogamous marriages (Al-Krenawi & Graham, 2006). It is common for women in a polygamous marriage to be unemployed and dependent upon their husband for financial support (Elbedour et al., 2002). Women may also feel that they have no other choice but to marry into a polygamous family because they are unable to meet their own economic needs (Elbedour et al., 2002). Although the holy book of Islam, the Koran, states that men should marry two, three, or four wives, it also explicitly states that they should be able to deal with and care for them equally. If they are unable to do so, they should only marry one wife (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2000). Despite this clear religious instruction, many women feel that they are treated unequally by their husband. They may feel that a new wife is favored and treated better because she is younger and often more fertile (Elbedour et al., 2002). The other wives may feel that their children are ostracized by their father as well. Another disadvantage for women in a polygamous marriage is the frequent lack of a say in decisions. Some decisions made by their husband regard their use (or lack thereof) of contraception. Another decision made by husbands without their wife or wives consent is the decision to marry other wives (Agadjanian & Chika Ezeh, 2000).
Negative Impacts of Polygamy on Arab Children in Israel Women in polygamous marriages are not the only ones negatively impacted by polygamy. Children of polygamous marriages are often faced with a confusing family structure and competition for their father’s attention. Elbedour et al. (2002), speculate that changes in the family structure that occur when a new wife is added may create problems in a developing child. These problems could “challenge a developing child’s sense of trust, security, and confidence” (Elbedour et al., 2002, p. 258). As families are interconnected, these stressful changes are imposed on children (Elbedour et al., 2002). Children of polygamous marriages are influenced by the conflict and/or stress experienced by their mother, as are all children. Most research on children from polygamous families is purely speculative; however, researchers feel that these children are subject to a number of risk factors (Elbedour et al., 2002). These speculated factors include: “marital conflict, marital distress, absence of father, and financial stress” (Elbedour et al., 2002, p. 258). Mothers may be less affectionate and involved with their children if they are experiencing problems with their marriage or with co-wives (Al-Krenawi & Graham, 2006). Research has also indicated that children of polygamous marriages are exposed to increased levels of violence and conflict between their parents (Elbedour et al., 2002). In a research study conducted by Wiesel and Krenawi (2000), Arab children were asked to draw a picture of their family. These pictures indicated feelings of anger and hostility towards family members not directly related (such as second wives and siblings from these women), as well as isolation (Wiesel & Krenawi, 2000). In all of the pictures, the children drew their birth mother first, followed by their siblings from their mother and father. The image of the birth mother was placed higher on the page than the other mothers and was drawn much larger as well. According to Wiesel and Krenawi (2000, p. 102), “thirty-six percent of children did not draw the father at all.”
The pictures also indicated the dominance of their father and rejection towards second wives and their children (Wiesel & Krenawi, 2000). Children belonging to the senior wife may have a poor relationship with their father due to feelings of resentment due to the fact that other families had been forced upon them. These children also expressed feelings of distance and disconnect from their fathers (Slonim-Nevo & Al-Krenawi, 2006). Fathers may also favor their children from their second wives, which may contribute to the feelings of distance (Wiesel & Krenawi, 2000). Children are often forced to remain with their father if divorce occurs between their father and mother. This can cause distress to the child, especially if he/she is not close to the father (Wiesel & Krenawi, 2000). Slonim-Nevo and Krenawi (2006) questioned children of polygamous families regarding their feelings towards second wives, siblings, and polygamy. All of the children questioned indicated that they would not want to marry into polygamous families as adults (Slonim-Nevo & Krenawi, 2006). Many of the children expressed feelings of loneliness and sadness.
Children of polygamous families tend to have fewer opportunities to interact with their parents and may not receive as much support. These children may also experience jealously and rivalry with their half siblings (Elbedour, Bart, & Hektner, 2007). A study conducted by Elbedour, Bart, and Hektner (2007) indicated that children of polygamous families have slightly lower levels of cohesion than children of monogamous families. According to the same study, these children were also more likely to display psychopathological symptoms (Elbedour, Bart, & Hektner, 2007). Socialization problems are also common in children from polygamous families (Elbedour, Bart, & Hektner, 2003).
Positive Impacts of Polygamy on Arab Women in Israel Although there are many negative impacts of polygamy on Arab women, some positive impacts were noted as well. Some of the influences of marital satisfaction include: age and employment of the husband, and whether or not the husband was supportive. Husbands often prefer younger wives over older wives, which provide the younger wives with more satisfaction (Elbedour, et al., 2002). In areas where polygamy is not as common, husbands are more likely to include their wives in family planning (Elbedour et al., 2002). In polygamous marriages where most or all the wives get along, there are some significant advantages. Some of these benefits include: “sharing household workload, site companionship and socializing with other women, greater autonomy because other wives will take care of the children, and other responsibilities” (Elbedour et al., 2002, p. 262). Research indicated that all relationships (between wives and husband, father and his children, and relationships among siblings) improved when the relationships between wives improved. Sometimes, first wives convince their husband to marry a second wife, perhaps because they have reproduction problems. Marriage to a second or third wife is usually out of choice or love rather than necessity or force (Elbedour et al., 2002). An additional benefit to women is the feeling that they are fulfilling “God’s wish or destiny” (Slonim-Nevo & Al-Krenawi, 2006) by marrying into a polygamous family.
Positive Impacts of Polygamy on Arab Children in Israel
The positive impacts of polygamy on Arab children depend at least partially on the structure of the family as well as the relationships within the family. For example, because of the large size of polygamous families, there may be more opportunities for warmth and affection (Elbedour et al., 2002). This positive attribute could only be present in a family if relationships were strong and family members got along. Also depending on the relationships and family structure is the opportunity of having a variety of adult role models (Elbedour et al., 2002). The value that the culture and Islamic religion place on children may also positively impact children in polygamous families (Elbedour et al., 2002).
Children raised in stable polygamous families were better off than those raised in unstable, conflict ridden polygamous and monogamous households (Elbedour et al., 2006). Children also gain self-esteem from their tribe, which happens when families follow the traditions of the culture and society around them.
Conclusion
Family structure can greatly influence any individual, especially developing children. The way a family interacts can have a positive or negative impact on the individual as a whole. For women in a polygamous marriage, there are many negative impacts on them physically and emotionally. There are positive benefits to being in a polygamous marriage as well. When multiples individuals must form a family unit, there is bound to be conflict of some form. Children of polygamous families may experience firsthand the positive and negative impacts of their family structure. Having many siblings may seem like an advantage, but when there is a constant struggle for the attention of a parent or parents, it is no longer a benefit.

References
Agadjanian V., & Ezeh, A. (2000). Polygyny, gender relations, and reproduction in Ghana. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 31, 427-441.
Al-Krenawi, A, & Graham, J. (2006). A comparison of family functioning, life and marital satisfaction, and mental health of women in polygamous and monogamous marriages. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 52, 5-19.
Al-Krenawi, A., Graham, J., & Izzeldin A. (2001). The psychosocial impact of polygamous marriages on Palestinian women. Women and Health, 34, 1-16.
Barber, N. (2008). Explaining cross-national differences in Polygyny intensity: Resource-defense, sex ratio, and infectious diseases. Cross-Cultural Research, 42, 103-117.
Elbedour, S., Onwuegbuzie, A., Caridine, C., & Abu-Saad, H. (2002). The effect of polygamous marital structure on behavioral, emotional, and academic adjustment in children: A comprehensive review of the literature. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 5, 255-271.
Elbedour, S., Bart, W., & Hektner J. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure: The case of adolescents from monogamous and polygamous families among Bedouin Arabs in Israel. The Journal of Social Psychology, 143, 95-110.
Elbedour, S., Bart, W., & Hektner, J. (2007). The relationship between monogamous/polygamous family structure and the mental health of Bedouin Arab adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 213-230.
Hassouneh-Phillips, D. (2000). Polygamy and wife abuse: A qualitative study of Muslim women in America. Health Care for Women International, 22, 735-748.
Lev-Wiesel, R., & Al-Krenawi A. (2000). Perception of family among Bedouin-Arab children of polygamous families as reflected in their family drawings. American Journal of Art Therapy, 38, 98-106.

Slonim-Nevo, V., & Al-Krenawi, A. (2006). Success and failure among polygamous families: The experience of wives, husbands, and children. Family Process, 45, 311-330.