A Phenomenological Study on Pologamy as a Family Structure in Chabahar, Balochistan

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate in Anthroplogy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran.

2 PhD in Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran; Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The phenomenon of polygamy although is not the dominant structure of family life in Iran, but among the Sunni people, particularly the Baloch, is a common phenomenon such that the highest observed proportion of polygamy is in Sistan and Balochistan province. The tribal structure of the Baloch people and their adherence to their ethnic and religious tradition have paved the way for this phenomenon. This phenomenological study, by investigating the causes of polygamy spread among the Baloch living in Chabahar, seeks to answer the question “How polygamous culture has been able to reproduce itself?”. On the other hand, “Are Baloch women willing and able to resist against polygamous family structure or simply have accepted these conditions?”. It was found out that Polygamy in Sistan and Balochistan is an accepted culture because in many cases, it increases the number of children and, as a result, the social and economic power of the family and tribe. This is against the situation of Baloch women in the social and economic hierarchy, their financial dependence, lack of legal support for divorce, and lack of social support. In addition, the breadth of this phenomenon has a cultural background, rather than age or wealth of men, and it cannot be limited to a particular tribe or social class. Regarding second question, findings of the current study showed that, although the decision to live in polygamy is usually a one-sided decision made by men, women are not only passive and receptive because compensation or revenge-based strategies have given them a degree of subjectivity to react against this family structure in an informal and silent way.

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