Polyandry in Tibet - Rationale Behind Polyandry

Rationale Behind Polyandry

Studies have attempted to explain the existence of polyandry in Tibet. One reason put forward in traditional literature is that:

• By not allowing land to be split between brothers, Tibetan families retained farms sufficiently large to continue supporting their family. A compelling socio-biological justification for polyandry is that it makes good genetic sense for brothers to raise one another's children since a brother possesses the next closest gene pool to their own.

Another reason for polyandry is that the mountainous terrain makes some of the farm land difficult to farm, requiring more physical strength. Women take multiple husbands because they are strong and able to help tend the land.