Polyandry

Polyandry is a form of marriage where a woman is simultaneously married to multiple men. It is relatively rare compared to other relational structures and often occurs in specific cultural or environmental contexts, such as in some Himalayan societies. Polyandry can help limit population growth, conserve resources, or strengthen familial alliances. It differs from polygyny, where a man has multiple wives. In polyandrous arrangements, the participating men typically share responsibilities and resources related to the woman and their collective household, functioning cooperatively as part of a multi-partner family unit.