Attitudes Toward and Reasons for Polygamy Differentiated by Gender and Age Among Bedouin-Arabs of the Negev

A three-part closed questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sampling of 202 men and women, high school students, and older respondents in a Bedouin-Arab town in the Negev, Israel. Those in monogamous families had more positive attitudes toward polygamy than those from polygamous families. The same was true of men versus women, and youth versus older respondents. Perceived reasons for polygamous family structures likewise varied by age and gender. Previous exposure to or experience with the practice may be significant to perceived attitudes and reasons.