Walking marriages have been around for centuries. People are willing to pay a stranger or an unmarried acquaintance to obtain a marriage certificate to continue their walk-in marriage. However, there are certain disadvantages to walking marriages, according to Tsultrim Paldzone, an expert on the practice. Read on to learn more about this unique form of marriage. But is it really worth the risk?

Polygyny disadvantages the offspring

Although polygyny disadvantages the offspring from walking marriages, polygyny is also advantageous for women in some contexts. In general, women are less well-paid for their domestic work, and this undervalued labor makes polygynous households financially difficult to sustain. Additionally, one husband’s income often needs to support multiple wives and many children. In these circumstances, the advantages of polygyny may be outweighed by its disadvantages.

Although polygyny is not considered to be harmful to women in every context, empirical studies have shown that it is detrimental to women. Polygynous marriages have a higher incidence of domestic violence, depression, and poverty, and the new wives have no influence over their husbands. Polygynous wives often feel powerless and are subject to emotional abuse. Because of these disadvantages, polygyny should be discouraged.

Early marriage disadvantages

While early marriage is common among young people, it does have its disadvantages. Oftentimes, couples aren’t fully matured when they marry, and they may not be aware of their partners’ preferences. Moreover, the fact that the partners don’t know each other well may make them feel less compatible. One of the most common disadvantages of early marriage is that couples often end up in divorce or financially unstable situations. Another disadvantage of early marriage is the likelihood of having an unprepared pregnancy.

Social isolation is another disadvantage of early marriage. A young woman may feel confined to her home and miss out on important activities. She may not have the knowledge needed to raise a child. Early marriage can also lead to problems with self-esteem. It is also associated with HIV infection. These disadvantages can significantly impact an individual’s emotional well-being. In India, a recent study showed that spouses who married too early suffered enormous psychosocial damage.

Matrilineality

One of the main criticisms of matrilineality is that walking marriages are often misconstrued as nonstop orgies of promiscuity. In reality, a walking marriage is more similar to serial monogamy, as relationships tend to last and the couple can easily separate if they no longer feel attracted to one another. While fathers are involved in the lives of children, they are considered less important than aunts and uncles.

Another critic of matrilineality is that it undermines women’s ability to participate in economic and political decision-making. Women in matrilineal marriages are less likely to advocate social independence, and are less likely to support leaving their husbands to have greater financial independence. Walking marriages also limit women’s social and political autonomy. However, this doesn’t mean that walking marriages are bad.

Large extended families

Unlike other types of marriage, walking marriages are conducted by mutual consent, without the traditional obligations of living together. Men will “walk” to the house of the woman they are dating for a romantic rendezvous, and return home by sunrise. In contrast, women live at home and do household chores. Large extended families can be stressful, especially for immigrants and people of color. The number of people living in such households has doubled in the last century, according to Ruggles.

Extended families can also be stifling and exhausting. While it gives people greater stability, they also tend to be less mobile. This is because extended families tend to have thicker family bonds, limiting the freedom of individual choice. The Victorian era family, for example, favored the first born son. Even today, the number of extended family members can reach hundreds. However, the advantages outweigh these disadvantages.

Paying unmarried acquaintances or strangers to apply for the certificate

Some people pay a married acquaintance or a total stranger to apply for a marriage certificate in order to continue a walking wedding. While this practice has been around for centuries, the bureaucracy of the government and the reluctance of some people to pay a stranger or unmarried acquaintance to apply for the certificate is making the practice more difficult. A walking marriage is illegal and the child of two parents without marriage certificates can’t get school or health care.