Evolution Quote by Robert Wright
“Actually, there is a sense in which polygynous marriage has not been the historical norm - even where polygyny is permitted, multiple wives are generally reserved for a relatively few men who can afford them or qualify via formal rank. For eons and eons, most marriages have been monogamous, even though most societies haven't been”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Evolution of Desire, Robert Wright, 1994
Monogamy has been the norm historically; polygyny is rare and limited to elite men, contrary to popular belief.
In simple terms: Most societies have been monogamous; polygyny is elite.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about marriage norms.
Themes
marriage
history
polygyny
monogamy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
historical
sociological
When to use this quote
- family planning
- cultural studies
- relationship counseling
- policy making
Key Concepts
anthropology
social hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we cling to myths about polygyny?
- How do cultural narratives shape marriage expectations?
A Different Perspective
The statement may oversimplify regional variations and modern shifts.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
