Is polygamy legal in the United States today?
Is polygamy legal in the United States today?
Polygamy is the act or condition of a person marrying another person while still being lawfully married to another spouse. It is illegal in the United States. The crime is punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both, according to the law of the individual state and the circumstances of the offense.
Does polygamy still exist?
Utah has a history that is tied to polygamy. However, some who belong to groups that broke away from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints still practice polygamy. While official numbers do not exist, it is estimated that over 1 percent of Utah's population is part of polygamist families.
Where is polygamy practiced today?
The legal status of polygamy varies widely around the world. Polygyny is legal in 58 out of nearly 200 sovereign states, the vast majority of them being Muslim-majority countries in Africa and Asia. Polyandry is illegal in virtually every country.
What’s wrong with polygamy?
Polygyny is associated with higher rates of domestic violence, psychological distress, co-wife conflict, and greater control of women, according to research by the Brown University political scientist Rose McDermott. Not exactly the direction the United States wishes to head for women, right?
