Polyandry: Where in the World Can a Woman Have Multiple Partners?

Polyandry is a rare form of family relationship in which one woman is married to several men simultaneously.

Unlike polygyny (when one man has several wives), polyandry is much less common and exists only in certain cultures of the world.

Polyandry has long traditions. It most often emerged in societies where resources were limited, and land or property had to remain within the family. Thus, several brothers could have one wife to avoid dividing the inheritance and keep the household intact.

• Tibet – the most well-known region where polyandry was practiced. Most often, a single woman would marry several brothers at once. This allowed for keeping land and property within the family.

• Nepal – in mountainous regions, traditions of polyandry can also be found, especially among ethnic groups of Sherpas and Tamangs.

• India (Himachal Pradesh state) – here, families where a woman has several husbands, usually brothers, can still be found.

• Africa – isolated cases of polyandry have been recorded among Nigerian tribal groups and in some areas of Kenya.

• South America – among the peoples of the Amazon (for example, Bororo or Canela), there is a belief that a child can have several "fathers," and a woman can have several partners.

Today, polyandry has almost completely disappeared, giving way to monogamy. However, in some isolated communities, the tradition persists. In the modern world, attitudes toward polyandry are ambiguous: for some, it is part of cultural heritage, for others – an exotic practice or even a challenge to established social norms.

The main reason for polyandry is economic. Several men share responsibilities and provide for the family. In harsh climates and limited resources, this increases chances of survival. Additionally, children receive support from several fathers at once.

Polyandry is a rare but unique social phenomenon, showing how diverse family forms can be. It reflects society's adaptation to living conditions and persists as a cultural phenomenon in some corners of the world.