sororal polygyny

anthropology

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July 14, 2026

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Sororal polygyny is a form of polygyny where a man is married to two or more women who are sisters. This practice is often favored because sisters are believed to be more supportive of each other than non-relatives.12

In many cultures, the eldest sister marries first, and her younger sisters join her as cowives as they come of age. This was a common practice among at least 40 Native American cultures in the 19th century.2

While polygyny can offer economic and social advantages, such as increased household labor and status, it can also lead to jealousy and conflict among cowives. Customs like granting seniority to the first wife or restricting polygyny to the sororal form help to mitigate these issues.2

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polygyny
Sororal polygyny, in which the cowives are sisters, is often the preferred form because sisters are thought to be more mutually supportive and less argumentative than nonsiblings. A typical rule for sororal polygyny is that the eldest girl in a family marries first and that…
Read More
Sororal polygyny, in which the cowives are sisters, is often the preferred form because sisters are thought to be more mutually supportive and less argumentative than nonsiblings. A typical rule for sororal polygyny is that the eldest girl in a family marries first and that…
Read More