Monogamy

We explain what monogamy is and what forms it takes. Why it is criticized, and differences with polygamy. Monogamy in animals.

What is monogamy?

Monogamy is a type of marriage, the most common in the legislation of most countries, which contemplates the union of two individuals through an exclusive, unique and singular sexual and loving bond.

This concept can also be applied to animals that maintain a bond of this type with their partner, at least during the mating season and growth of their offspring.

The term comes from the Greek bun (“one”) and fallow deer (“marriage”). Monogamy though is not synonymous with marriage. There may be other types of marriage arrangements, such as polygamy (polygyny or polyandry).

Although the monogamous model is the traditional and customary one in the West, in the 21st century, alternative forms of erotic or loving organization have emerged, such as polyamory. However, none of them enjoys formal recognition of any kind, nor great social acceptance yet.

Broadly speaking, we can speak of two forms of monogamy:

• Strict monogamy. That which stipulates that one must have an erotic and romantic connection with a single person throughout life, except in the event that said person dies (and sometimes even then).
• Serial monogamy. The most common in the West, establishes that the erotic and romantic link must occur in a unique and exclusive way between two specific individuals at the same time, although for a time determined by mutual agreement. Once either party decides to break the union, they will be free to build a new one with another person.

See also: Fall in love

Monogamy in humans

There is much debate about the nature of monogamy as our species. It can be considered part of a set of cultural and historical impositionsthe result of the religious domination of Western society during the long medieval period, which would have left its mark.

It is even associated with the logic of private property, capitalism and status quo Western world of the 21st century. This judgment is made above all based on the oppression of women, since in many societies monogamy is reinforced and monitored over women, but is made more flexible around men.

There are also those who affirm that the polygamous logic, of multiple sexual partners, is the most faithful to our biology and to the fundamental principle of spreading the genetic seed as widely as possible.

On the contrary, Others claim that there is even a genetic basis for monogamy.because throughout the history of species, this sexual behavior appears linked to the expression of a set of 24 genes related to brain development. Therefore, the most intelligent species in nature cultivate this type of bond.

However, it should be noted that It is not biology but culture that determines our behaviors. That is to say, both monogamy and its variants have various reasons and contexts of appearance in the history of humanity linked to religion, tradition and historical conditions.

Paradoxically, according to anthropological studies, 16% of human societies embrace monogamybut only 5% disapprove of extramarital sex.

Monogamy in animals

monogamy It is uncommon in animal specieswhich can be seen in only 3% of known mammals, according to some scholars. Some of them are orcas, some are rodents; but also some species of birds such as penguins, crows, parrots and eagles.

In any case, for a species to be declared monogamous, it must comply with the following five conditions:

• Male and female must cohabit and be selectively chosen in the long term or during the breeding and breeding periods.
• Unfamiliar individuals should be repelled of the nest, burrow or family territory, even if they belong to the same species.
• Parents dedicate a extensive attention to breeding.
• Playback is regulated at a social level by the individuals of the species themselves.
• Incest is avoided among adult individuals.

Monogamy and polygamy

If monogamy implies the exclusive sexual and romantic bond between the individuals of a couple, polygamy, on the other hand, proposes a multiple but regulated bond. That is to say that it is the possibility of marrying multiple people at the same time or successively.

When it comes to A man married to several women is known as polygyny. It is much less common polyandry: a woman married to several men. Polygamy is accepted by cultures such as Islamic or Jewish, in their most traditional variants.

Continue in: Polygamy

Criticisms of monogamy

As we said before, there is much disagreement regarding the suitability of monogamy for human beings. Broadly speaking, he is criticized:

• Sexism. Given the sexist cultural patterns of most human societies, monogamy is fulfilled and monitored in the case of women, but is made more flexible in the case of men, allowing him greater amounts of sexual and romantic freedom.
• Link with private property. Monogamy appeared in our species at the same time as agriculture and the idea of ​​private property, which makes women part of man's heritage, of the objects they own, since they lose the freedom to choose which male they want to reproduce with. , generally being given by their parents according to material motivations.
• Link with religion. It is no secret that many religions encourage an exclusive monogamous bond, while punishing extramarital relationships. This was particularly intense during the European Middle Ages, when the Catholic Church ruled with an iron fist. Hence, moral considerations about monogamy are linked to conservative values.
• Divorce rates. Monogamous marriages have been shortening their usual life span in most modern societies, allowing the interruption of the relationship and the beginning of a new one, exceeding 70% of marriage cases in some countries. Thus, serial monogamy is embraced, which does not exclude extramarital sex (infidelity) and which, on a general level, makes monogamous citizens “repressed polygamists,” as Sigmund Freud stated.

Continue with: Blended Family

References

• “Monogamy” on Wikipedia.
• “'Monogamy is not a trait of the human being'” in La Nación newspaper (Argentina).
• “They reveal that monogamy can respond to a genetic formula” in El Territorio (Argentina).
• “Monogamy: it's not what you think” in Psychology Today.
• “Monogamy” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.