Women Under Polygamy/Preface
PREFACE
This volume has for its main object an inquiry into the actual social and domestic position of women under the system of plural marriage. Polygamy, like monogamy, must be judged by its fruits. In the East, cultured advocates and apologists have explained the biological and racial causes of the practice, and contrasted it with the single marriage custom of the West. Among European and other Western writers, solicitous for the truth, there are those who avow frankly that, from observation and investigation, they are disposed to regard polygamy as an institution with certain distinct advantages for women. Equally sincere critics have condemned this form of marriage, sometimes judicially, and often with passion. One writer, approaching the question with conclusions already formed, denounces zenana life for women as "abominable"; while another of a more dispassionate cast, viewing the subject from various aspects, discovers that a practice of the sex-relationship, sanctioned by many devout and humane teachers, cannot be compounded entirely of evil.
From a mass of conflicting opinion, I have sought to sift the truth. At all events, I have tried to avoid both enthusiastic approval and heated condemnation. My numerous authorities, Eastern and Western, must be judged by my readers with a fair mind. I have rejected neither disapprobation nor censure.
The view of educated English women, who affirm that the lot of their Turkish sisters is more enviable than that of the mass of the women of our own country, is as worthy of serious attention as the compassionate attitude of the fervent woman-missionary in the East. Sir Richard Burton is as worthy of acceptation as Sir William Muir. Bishop Colenso, who permitted polygamy among his native African converts, must be heard with the same attention granted to Professor Edward Westermarck, who heartily reprobates all forms of polygamy.
The point of view of the Hindu woman, who thanks fate that she was born under religious and legal polygamous marriage, should at least interest the intelligent Western woman, who blesses the fortune that made her the daughter of a monogamous race.
I have given the personal views of Eastern men and women known to me, and of Western-born women who have voluntarily entered into harem marriage. I am indebted to numerous writers on ethnology and travel, whose names and works are mentioned in the text.
WALTER M. GALLICHAN.
London, N. W.
Jan. 28th, 1914.