Define Polyandry.

Polyandry is a marital system in which a woman has multiple husbands simultaneously. This form of marriage is relatively rare compared to polygyny (a marital arrangement where a man has multiple wives), and it has been practiced in various cultures throughout history. Polyandry takes different forms, and the reasons for its existence can vary.

One common form of polyandry is fraternal polyandry, where a woman is married to two or more brothers at the same time. This practice has been observed in cultures such as the Himalayan region, particularly among certain Tibetan and Nepalese communities. Fraternal polyandry can have economic advantages, as it helps in consolidating family resources and property.

Polyandry can also be a response to environmental or economic factors, such as scarcity of resources or a need for labor cooperation. It may serve as a strategy for population control or a means of ensuring the paternity of children in situations where multiple men contribute to the care and support of the offspring.

While polyandry is not as prevalent globally as other marital arrangements, its existence highlights the diversity of cultural practices surrounding marriage and family structures across different societies.