The Dynamics of Polyandry: How many husbands could you put up with at one time?
Written: Sep 06 '02 (Updated May 06 '04)
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Pros: A fascinating examination of a culture whose system of marriage differs radically from our own.
Cons: I would have liked a more complete view of the culture, other than marriage practices.
The Bottom Line: This book provides a rare, honest glimpse of a remote and interesting culture. If you are open minded and enjoy learning about other cultures, look for this book.
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| lyagushka's Full Review: Dynamics of Polyandry Kinship Domesticit Books |
In her ethnography, The Dynamics of Polyandry, Nancy E. Levine examines the practice of fraternally polyandrous marriage among the Nyinba people of northwestern Nepal. "Fraternally polyandrous marriage," I hear you ask. "What the heck is that?" Well, to put it briefly, it's the practice of a woman marrying a group of brothers; the woman having multiple husbands, and the brothers having a wife in common.
The Nyinba are culturally Tibetan, though they live in the nation of Nepal. As a distinct ethnic group, they have survived remarkably well in their harsh Himalayan environment, in part because of the predominance of this form of marriage among them. One effect of such a system of marriage is to limit the reproductive capacity of the males, while providing more resources for the children of each wife. This practice differentiates them from their Nepalese neighbors, who favor monogamous marriage, and who, incidentally, suffer famine and starvation with frightening regularity. As a good cultural anthropologist however, Levine is careful to note that fraternal polyandry did not necessarily evolve to address these environmental difficulties, but it does act as an excellent "strategy" that allows the culture to thrive where others fail.
Although brothers must share sexual access to a wife, Levine reports an almost complete lack of jealousy on the part of brothers. There are many options open to households which experience marital friction in the Nyinba tradition. A discontented brother can withhold his labor contribution from the household, attempt to bring another wife into the marriage, enter into a separate magpa marriage, or even demand partition of the household estates. In a magpa marriage a household with no male heir takes in a single son-in-law to ensure for a next generation. While a matter of survival for the bride's family, it is seen as a betrayal by the husband's family. Partition, although strongly disfavored in Nyinba culture, is possible because each brother is theoretically heir to a portion of the household estates. This usually occurs when one brother wishes to take a wife exclusively for himself. Monogamy is permitted among the Nyinba, though again strongly discouraged.
The Dynamics of Polyandry provides a fascinating, and so far as I know, the only published view of the Nyinba culture. Levine did her research first-hand, spending a year in a small community of tiny villages. She explores the history of several families in depth, probing the memories of the living to document several generations of marriage practice and social relationships. The ramifications of fraternal polyandry and other types of marriage among the Nyinba are explored in great depth and with sensitivity.
Levine clearly is fond of the people who are her hosts, subjects and informants, but she is not so enamoured or wide-eyed that she overlooks the few negative consequences of fraternal polyandry. For one thing, this form of marriage produces a surplus of women. The Nyinba "deal" with this by passively allowing a greater mortality rate among female infants and young children. Girls are fed less and are less likely to receive medical attention. Those girls who survive into adulthood and marry enjoy positions of security, wealth and privilege. But even so, there are always a certain number of women without husbands or official status in the community.
While Levine focuses primarily on the examination of fraternally polyandrous marriage among the Nyinba, she devotes some discussion to other aspects of their culture such as subsistence strategies and religion. She also provides statistical information on their village populations, birth rates and physiognomy. Unfortunately, these sections feel as though they were "tacked on" to the main body of her work. Either this material was an afterthought or perhaps much of it was cut to ensure a narrower focus for the book. Levine makes mention of hard work and cooperation being the most cherished values in the culture. I would have liked to know more about how these values are instilled in children.
Although Levine wrote this book on the basis of her research for her Ph.D, the writing in The Dynamics of Polyandry is neither overly academic nor filled with terms familiar only to anthropologists. There are numerous cultural terms particular to the Nyinba culture. These are both carefully explained and collected into a glossary. There are also endnotes and academic sources for further reading. A few black and white photographs show the Nyinba people at work and at ease. With their beautiful, friendly faces it's easy to imagine why Levine enjoyed her time among them.
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. It satisfied my sense of curiosity about a culture radically different from my own. I do have a background in anthropology, so that probably has something to do with my enjoyment of the book. But it also allows me to say that this is a particularly well-written and interesting ethnography. I've read many in my time, and while all hold a certain interest for me, few are so well rendered that I would recommend them for a non-anthropologist, average reader.
I believe anyone with a non-judgmental attitude and a healthy interest in other cultures could read, understand and enjoy this book. Despite the academic motivations for this work, it is not so scholarly as to be inaccessible to a general audience. In this age of ever increasing westernization of the globe, it is more valuable than ever to recognize, respect and learn from cultures that employ solutions different from our own and thrive while doing so. If this review has piqued your interest, I highly recommend you look for this book and find out how some of your fellow global citizens live.
If you're interested in the subject of polygamy in general, you may find my review of the memoir Predators, Prey, and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy of use.
Recommended:
Yes
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