Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Polyandry and Poligamy

[RowenaHC (RowenaHC]

 I didn't realize this discussion was about polyandry and poligamy!   For 
sure, there are place in the world where these forms of marriage are 
considered acceptable.   The problem with practicing either in the U.S. - 
apart from the fact that it is generally frowned upon by the neighbors and is 
illegal in most states - is that we lack the legal structure to deal with it. 
  There are problems of parenthood, inheritance and so on, which would need 
to be addressed if this were to become more than a closet way of life. Of 
course, in most  countries that permit multiple wives, the fathers always get 
custody of children in divorce proceedings.   In Massachusetts, however, the 
courts have become very liberal in determining who has become a "surrogate 
parent" to a child and is, therefore, entitled to visitation rights and so on 
- giving such rights to the gay former-partner of a child's mother and to an 
aunt who had raised a child since she was a baby until her father turned up 
and wanted to claim her.   However, to the best of my knowledge, they have 
not been faced with the break up of a polyandrous marriage!   

If such a family wanted to join a cohousing group I think it would raise very 
interesting discussions which would be quite different from the original idea 
as I understood it, of "falling in love"  and having sex with a variety of 
neighbors.