Özet:

This study aimed to examine the family relations and psychosocial problems of women who are religiously married to legally married men—traditionally called second-wives. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 second-wives residing in Istanbul using qualitative methods with semi-structured interview forms. As a result, men’s patriarchal attitudes towards sexuality, desires for improving their status and having male children appeared to lead marrying a second-wife. It was found that second-wives were raised by patriarchal families who experienced domestic violence, gambling, and alcoholism and these problems, either directly or indirectly, have affected the second-wives’ partner choices. The participants, stigmatized and marginalized by their families and milieu because of their marriage, experience psychosocial and socioeconomical problems. Based on these findings, solutions concerning education and counseling for women involved in polygamous marriages were proposed.

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