Reasons for polyandry in Tibet????

Question

I looked this up in Wikipedia and this was the result:

1. Because of the practice of female infanticide in Tibet, there had been a relative shortage of females. Polyandry resolved the problem by allowing a few men to marry one woman.

2. Because Tibet lies at a very high altitude, and land was infertile, polyandry was adopted to prevent starvation. Under the circumstances, polyandry, by diminishing the birth rate of every generation, prevented excessive demographic growth that could result in starvation.

It does state in the website that some anthropologist had argued against those reasons but no explanation of his own theory of why polyandry was practiced in Tibet.

Im asking because I've heard that they practice FRATERNAL POLYANDRY, because SONS inherit their family land, wealth, etc. therefore, in order to keep the family land, all brothers (regardless of age) were married to one female.

Opinions please!!

Answer 1

I lived with Tibetans in Nepal, on and off for two years. Those women who practiced polyandry, were usually married to salt traders, who would load as much salt as they could, on the backs of their goats (pack animals), and walk to India, through the Himalayas...

The round trip would usually take 3-4 months. Then, the next one would go, when another returned...

In the meantime, the one wife (of cousins, brothers, etc.) would live at the family's home, usually working as a live-in  innkeeper, while raising the children. It was a practical arrangement, regarding s*x, infidelity, and preserving the family's resources...

As for the theories mentioned, they're probably true results of this arrangement, however I believe that the original impulse began as a practical solution, to an obvious problem!

Answer 2

You answered your own question. In everything you wrote. They do this for the sheer fact of land and value. If you are asking because you dont understand....that is a question of ethnocentrism. They have a different way of living. Very interesting, but it works for them and their families to ensure wealth and keeping it within a family. Have you taken a Cultural Anthro class? you should you would love it.