When I saw the article, I thought I might find a different perspective on a contraversial topic, but all I found was this steaming pile of drivel.

Spouting quotes from clerics dating back to 1932 and sexual attitudes prior to that is about as well thought out and balanced as shouting "Israel must die"

Please don't publish tripe like this again.

a rich man can support several women in comfort, a poor man can not support even one.

if a woman prefers to be the comfortable 4th wife of a rich man rather than starve alone or with a poor man, why not let her have this choice, with legal support?

The author obviously had to delve a long way back within the modern historical period to find a female supporter of polygamy. I'm not surprised. I doubt many thinking females would tolerate the practice, and I'm surprised, apart from a few exceptions, at the lack of strong condemnation in the comments here, though I note the majority of contributors are male which probably explains it.

The practice of polygamy is totally unfair and degrading toward women. Those in Poncan's paradise who according to him seem quite happy with the practice have grown up with it and know no other way. Women brought up in Western societies today quite rightly grow up believing their status to be equal to that of men's. Even though the reality is still far different for many, they would not tolerate, nor should they, having to share their power base within a stable heterosexual relationship with other women, while the male partner within the relationship makes no such concession.

The practice of polygamy plays right into the hands of those who believe in a patriarchal society. It should be exposed for the male power play it truly represents and denounced completely before it gains any further traction.

Polygamy is not degrading to women at all. Unfortunately this is feminist/misandrist agenda.

If anyone chooses to enter partnerships in such a means, that is COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY. Does anyone understand this? Particularly you Bronwyn/ Do you see the problem with feminism yet? The only problem for society then that must be addressed is that some men will not be able to marry (assuming women voluntarily do this more). There may be many solutions to that problem.

Let me repeat. Anyone who enters such a partnership would be doing so voluntarily through their own choices. To deny them their voluntary choice, or tell them that they do not know what they want and impose your view onto their choices, is simply fraudulent.......or, as Bronwyn and others have shown, mainstream feminist policy.

Here feminists have actually become anti-women's liberation themselves by denying women their free choices. And even Bronwyn is a self-professed moderate feminist...being tricked into hating women who choose to live in such a way and denying them their free choice.

How can feminism deny women their free choices? This is a large part of the history of feminism sadly. Deceit and lies that becomes mainstream policy. Feminists did this with pornography and censorship over the last couple of decades and we have seen continuing episodic instances presented as 'respectable feminism' right here on OLO.

Steel, what you say would only be accurate if multiple husbands for a single wife are an option as well.

Free choice, and all that.

Steel – you got there before I did. Bronwyn is typical of the attitude amongst women now especially in Australia.

Again I refer to where I am positioned in the world and where feminism hasn’t yet infected it’s good citizens. Women here have absolutely freedom of choice. There are women in all walks of life. My own Bank manager is a woman, my dentist is a woman, and a dam good one. My wife just chooses to be a wife and mother, and she is also a good one.

I have taken my wife to Australia twice, and she can not relate to the women there. Some women in a matter of weeks tried to convince her to leave me and make the good life in OZ. I travel to OZ often, but she will not come with me now because of this strange and horrible attitude Australian women have.

All I can say to you Bronwyn is that it is people with attitudes like yours that has taken a great country severely backwards. It is partly this reason that now one million Australian nationals now live overseas. This is the attitude that is forcing 5 good Australian men to suicide every day. Not to mention the destruction of the family unit and the hopeless family law system.

Yes – I do live in paradise in comparison, and where there are real women without this feminist disease. Some were before me, and many others following.