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How would that work? If there were 80 women left and only 20 men would the expectation really be that the remaining men knock up 4 women each? That doesn’t seem
by randyrand 8y ago
How would that work? If there were 80 women left and only 20 men would the expectation really be that the remaining men knock up 4 women each? That doesn’t seem like it would ever fit our social norms and seems like a completely unimportant point.
- WalterBright 8y agoSocial norms tend to get suspended when mugged by reality. In your scenario, given no other supply of men (foreigners, old men) I would expect polygamy to become tacitly acceptable.
- spectrum1234 8y agoCertainly this would be less of a stigma considering 75% of men would be gone.
- dbt00 8y agoMen outside of mandatory service ages can father children.
- WalterBright 8y agoAs I mentioned, that indeed does happen. But there are downsides to that, too. Older fathers are a risk factor for abnormalities in the offspring.
- sangnoir 8y agoThe young, rich and well-connected won't get drafted or will get perpetual deferments. I'm certain they will be willing and able to play their part.
- daenz 8y agothe social dynamics of mating would change a lot in that scenario, along with social norms. when the supply for a male partner to procreate with drops that drastically, while the demand from women remains the same, things we consider "normal" would change to reflect those new pressures.
- jackpirate 8y agoIn 1871, only 12% of Paraguayans were male due to massive losses in war. Women were happy to share men in order to have babies. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9hg68w/in_1871_only_about_12_of_paraguayans_were_male/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9hg68w/in_18...
- magicalist 8y ago> Women were happy to share men in order to have babies. That not supported by your source.
- jackpirate 8y agoMy answer is perhaps too facetious, but I think mostly supported by the link. In particular: So, what about dating? It's not difficult to see a continuation of pre-war Paraguayan society in this regard. Back then, there were less men than women. After the war, this was still the case. Women were still commonly the head of the family and births out of wedlock were a common occurrence, something that was also the case in the pre-war society. There is essentially no research into the exact numbers and status of these children born out of wedlock. All that's really known is there was essentially no stigma at this time due to being born out of wedlock: This is unfortunately where, as Pottshast herself points out, documentation fails us. We don't know. In fact, the documentation in general considering how many of these children were born is not entirely known. With the mother being the identifiable stable force in the family, it seems that identity was tied to the mother rather than the father as in the case of children born out of wedlock. A lack of stigma could therefore be seen as a continuation of pre-war Paraguayan society.
- watwut 8y agoNah. It works by men having much better negotiating positions in relationship, men being able to cheat and women tolerating that else he leaves. Or by boy putting girlfriend into situation where she either have sex or he leaves for another. That sort of thing. People respond to incentives, both genders.