@article{ref1,
title="Co-Wife Conflict and Co-operation",
journal="Ethnology",
year="2005",
author="Wilreker, Benjamin C. and Jankowiak, William and Sudakov, Monika",
volume="44",
number="1",
pages="81-98",
abstract="Conventional wisdom holds that the polygynous family system is as sexually and emotionally satisfying as a monogamous one. Ethnographic accounts of 69 polygynous systems, however, provide compelling evidence that the majority of co-wives in a polygynous family prefer pragmatic co-operation with one another while maintaining a respectful distance. Moreover, there often is a deep-seated feeling of angst that arises over competing for access to their mutual husband. Co-wife conflict in the early years of marriage is pervasive, and often marked by outbursts of verbal or physical family violence. Co-wife conflict may be mitigated by social institutions, such as sororal polygyny and some form of &quot;social security&quot; or helath care. Material wealth may be divided more or less equally, but as a husband's sexual attention (a primary source for increased fertility) and affection cannot always be equitably distributed, there is ongoing and contentious rivalry among co-wives.<p />",
language="",
issn="0014-1828",
doi="10.2307/3773961",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3773961"
}