What kind of marriage system is followed in a society where a male can marry several women who would live separately from each other?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2019

Explanation

The question describes a situation where one man marries several women, which is the definition of polygyny.
Polygyny is a specific form of the broader marriage system known as polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse at a time.
Therefore, polygamy is the correct overarching term for the system described.

Option A: Endogamy is a rule that dictates one must marry within a particular social group (like a caste or tribe). It concerns the choice of partner's group, not the number of partners.
Option B: Exogamy is a rule that dictates one must marry outside a particular social group (like a clan or village). It also concerns the choice of partner's group, not the number of partners.
Option C: Matriarchal refers to a social system where females hold primary power and authority. It describes the power structure of a society, not the form of marriage.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Types of Marriage Systems in Sociology as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding different marriage systems and family structures is crucial for community health nurses to provide culturally competent care.
A nurse's awareness of family dynamics, such as in a polygynous family, can affect health education, family planning discussions, and child care advice.
What if? If a nurse encounters a patient from a polyandrous family (one wife, multiple husbands), the approach to discussing sexually transmitted infections, paternity, and child health would need to be adapted to include all partners in the family unit.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the question carefully to identify the key elements: a male marrying several women.
Next, define each of the options provided.
Endogamy and Exogamy relate to the social group one can marry into or out of, not the number of spouses. Eliminate these.
Matriarchal refers to a power structure led by women, not a marriage type. Eliminate this.
Polygamy is the practice of having multiple spouses. The specific scenario of a man with multiple wives is called polygyny, which is a type of polygamy. This matches the question.
Select Polygamy as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Types of Marriage Systems in Sociology
Stem keywords: marriage system, male, marry, several women
Lead-in keywords: What kind
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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E6 Applied Sociology for Nurses TK Indrani pp. 162-164, 161-163

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