The article, "Defending and Attacking Polygamy in Saudi Arabia," presents q many family and gender concerns. The article contains several varying views on family and gender stereotypes. There is ad-vocation for polygamous marriages with a perception they are a more robust forum for managing unions. From the article, women do not have the choice of a solitary life, and every one of them has to have a spouse. Even highly educated women are likely to engage in a polygamous marriage regardless of their customs and values. Women are living a comfortable life, able to sustain their lifestyle, successful in their careers, and have many achievements in life but still prefer having a partner for the company to living a solitary life. A good example is Al Hooti, a Saudi Arabian woman with a Ph.D. (McCarthy, 2004). Women like her are in constant pressure to choose polygamist arrangements. With their lifestyle, they cannot be present for their husbands all the time. This preference for polygamy because of someone's success is something that would be not acceptable in America.
Several Saudi women agree to polygamous marriage for astonishing purposes. For starters, a woman may enter into a partnership only to get children. In fact, in these cultures, women find their position in marriage to be inferior to that of their spouse. As a consequence, they feel that they ought to be in a marriage to feel complete. Some, like in the case of female two the feel their religion meant well by allowing polygamous marriages (McCarty, 2004). However, there is a misinterpretation of the same religion to fulfill individuals' personal desires. Men are taking advantage of the situation for their particular benefit not associated with religion. The majority, especially men, feel that polygamy is good, but a polygamous marriage should be one of harmony and unity and not one of jealousy. The majority of women are of the view that polygamy is an abuse of rights as recently men are using it as a hypocritical way to defend other desires.
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Marriage is sacred; spouses share a mutual bond, a dedication with companionship as a primary intention of marriage. Marriage also involves an essential commitment to respect each other and to achieve the central goal of creating a family. Even as Saudi Arabia shares this notion of marriage with the western world, there are several clashes of gender stereotypes in marriage between these societies. Saudi society defends polygamous marriages, something that is not much acceptable in the western world. To the western world, polygamy is a decision that is not an option for marriage. Commitment is between two people, and adding a third person to it would lead to resentment, hatred, and intolerance for the couple. Every person on this planet has an inalienable right of choice. People have the freedom to live their life; however, they see fit, and nobody in this world will be allowed to claim otherwise.
Additionally, the western world is more accommodating to new ideas and trends. A good example is the development of same-sex marriages over the years. Even though not everyone has been open to the latest trend, at least half the population approve of them (Rosenbaum, 2004). These approvals are mostly from the young generation, which also advocates for liberalization. Saudi society is strict on traditional laws, and such developments would come close to support in their culture. The adherence to customary laws is seen even in divorces. Divorce procedures are easier for women in the western world than in Saudi. It is also easier for a divorced woman in the western world than it is in the Saudi society. It is one of the reasons why divorced women in Saudi society prefer being a second wife in marriage as it is easier than being alone.
References.
McCarthy, J. (2004). Defending and attacking polygamy in Saudi Arabia [Audio]. Retrieved
from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3499026
Rosenbaum, D. E. (2004). Ideas & trends: Legal license; Race, sex and forbidden unions.
In Marriage and the Family. Retrieved from http://ethemes.pearsoncmg.com/0205394213/article_13/index.html
