THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF POLYGAMY IN THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL AMONG THE GAMMO PEOPLE: THE CASE OF BONKE DISTRICT, GAMMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The aim of study is mainly to assess positive and negative socio-economic effect of polygamy among households in Bonke district of Gammo zone, SNNPRS. The study is conducted using both primary and secondary data sources such as interview, focus group discussion, questionnaire, books, journals and magazines. Stratified sampling with simple random sampling and snowball sampling techniques are employed to select 120 respondents. Descriptive and statistical data analysis method under mixed research approach and concurrent research design is used while analyzing socio-economic effect of polygamy among households in Bonke district. The discussion and finding is mainly focused on factors such as desire for a lot of children, use of wives and women as labor force, polygamous marriage as a symbol of high economic status, and inheritance marriage of relatives’ wife; social and economic effects, for instance: Disagreement and conflict among family members, jealousy among household members, unequal distribution of resources, mutual distrust and disrespect among family members; role of government and community elders in regulating practice of polygamy; and Bonke society’s attitude towards polygamy. The study is finalized by the conclusion that polygamy has more negative effects than positive effects. Accordingly, polygamy is not permitted in legal documents of current Ethiopia and law punishes those who violate marital relationship of spouses. Thus, the researcher recommended that Bonke society have to compare advantages and disadvantages of polygamy on households, children and women affairs office. And children and women affairs office must provide awareness creation education to the society, and polygamists should recognize polygamy practice as criminal action.