Get premium membership and access revision papers with marking schemes, video lessons and live classes.

Processing. Please wait.

Polygamous family,its disadvantages and why most men prefer marrying more than one wife

Answer Text:
Polygamous Family:
This is a family in which a man marries more than one wife. Polygamous families are common in traditional African communities. There are many reasons why men get married to more than one wife. For example:
-There is provision of mutual help and assistance among family members.
-The husband continues to get sexual satisfaction as the wives give birth at different times.
-Many children born in a polygamous family provide labour, security and defence to the family and the clan.
However, there are disadvantages in polygamous families: For example:
-A husband may fail to satisfy his wives sexually.
-He may fail as a father to provide love and attention to the children.
-There is tension and hostility in the home as the many wives compete for attention from the husband.
-The man may fail to support the family economically.