I find it difficult (at first glance) to see how extending marriage to polygamous groups doesn’t change the nature of marriage beyond what I think most people understand it to be. This may or may not be a good thing. It may or may not matter at all. There seems to me to be significant difference between “2 people” and “more than 2 people”.
I wonder if the extension of marriage to polygamous people is the first change to marriage that affects how I experience my own marriage. Currently one of the uses of marriage is a signal of monogamy. It’s an imperfect signal to be sure. Don’t try and form a sexual relationship with me, I am married and not ever available for a sexual relationship with you.
That holds true for marriage whether it is restricted to persons of the same colour or of different genders (or sexes).
If polygamy were introduced it changes the nature of my marriage from a public binding declaration of a monogamy to not that. It changes the scope of acceptable behaviours involving married people and therefore changes the way people can legitimately interact with me.
Which again, may or may not be important and may or may not be more important than the benefits to those who wish to practise polygamy but it’s a change that affects me in a way that removing a colour bar or a sexuality bar doesn’t.
no subject
I wonder if the extension of marriage to polygamous people is the first change to marriage that affects how I experience my own marriage. Currently one of the uses of marriage is a signal of monogamy. It’s an imperfect signal to be sure. Don’t try and form a sexual relationship with me, I am married and not ever available for a sexual relationship with you.
That holds true for marriage whether it is restricted to persons of the same colour or of different genders (or sexes).
If polygamy were introduced it changes the nature of my marriage from a public binding declaration of a monogamy to not that. It changes the scope of acceptable behaviours involving married people and therefore changes the way people can legitimately interact with me.
Which again, may or may not be important and may or may not be more important than the benefits to those who wish to practise polygamy but it’s a change that affects me in a way that removing a colour bar or a sexuality bar doesn’t.