red to hand over all of their earnings to theirhusbands, many men simply take additional wives because of the incentive to increase theirincome. Unfair handling of money is one of the many offenses that occurs in polygamousmarriages. Men do not hesitate to take money from one family and spend it on the familyof a more favorable wife, nor do they think twice about getting rid of a wife when they aretired of her. Sociologist Katherine Rozario says that, "Most people treat their wives as apair of shoes, taking a second or a third paid at their sweet will and turning them out oftheir houses any time they want."13 Despite the ill treatment that women are subjected toin polygamous marriages, they believe that they are better off in a polygamous marriagethan opposed to not being married. No matter how corrupt the marriage may be, marriageis seen as a protective force that allows women a certain status in society. Nurjahan, whois married to a 24 year old man who has been married seventeen times says that, "The factis that as long as I have a husband, no man will dare take advantage of me. At least I amsafe."14 Although Islam claims that polygamous marriages are rare and that they advocatemonogamous marriages, there is an upward trend in the number of polygamous marriagesin Bangladesh as well as other countries:The 1974 census pegged the number of polygamous marriages in Bangladesh at140,000. The figure rose by six times in 1981, shooting up to 1.4 million in 1991. Demographers believe the numbers are probably much higher.15Divorce laws also deny women basic liberties. Many countries do not allowwomen to initiate divorce proceedings, and if they do, they are rarely granted. The systemsin place, rarely provide fair divorce hearings in favor of the women. Because of thealienation that a women would incur from divorcing her husband, many women wouldnever dream of asking for a divorce. On the contrary, men are granted divorces easily and...
