Polygyny (not for everyone --- the numbers don't work out! --- but for the top males) is certainly more common across cultures than strict monogamy, and it fits the pattern of reproductive fitness esp. in societies where many men are missing or disabled. But these new so-called "marriage" forms being pressed upon us today, have little or nothing to do with reproductive fitness.
These new marriages are also, I will venture to say, inevitably statist, because they have no obvious social reinforcement from deepseated religious/cutural or customary practice, and thus require constant redefining and intricate negotiation and enforcement via the legal apparatus, lawyers, judges ---- ultimately, the state.
“These new marriages are also, I will venture to say, inevitably statist, because they have no obvious social reinforcement from deepseated religious/cutural or customary practice, and thus require constant redefining and intricate negotiation and enforcement via the legal apparatus, lawyers, judges —— ultimately, the state.”
They couldn’t punish anyone that doesn’t buy into it without the state. A few people saying they are all married are not really married. A few people saying they are all married because they have a piece of paper from the state still aren’t married, but now have a more ready means to punish if you don’t want to act like they are.
Freegards