# The Male Revolt Against Polygyny explained — Getting Married > Chapter companion for Getting Married by George Bernard Shaw. ## What happens This chapter examines the dynamics of polygyny and polyandry, arguing that women tolerate polygyny when it allows access to high-quality men, while men oppose it due to the resulting scarcity of mates. It suggests that monogamy is preferred when both sexes have access to sufficiently high-quality partners, and that opposition to polygyny comes from mediocrities rather than the best individuals. ## Themes in this chapter ### Economic Dependence of Women The chapter frames women's acceptance of polygyny as an economic calculation, substituting 'Income' for 'Man' to illustrate the dependent woman's perspective. ### Population and Social Consequences The chapter discusses the quality of offspring and the idea of eliminating 'inferiors' to make monogamy universally desirable, touching on eugenic themes. ## Key lines > Experience shows that women do not object to polygyny when it is customary: on the contrary, they are its most ardent supporters. Women actually support polygyny when it is a social norm. _This introduces the central paradox of the chapter._ > Substitute the word Income for the word Man, and you will have the question as it presents itself economically to the dependent woman. A woman's choice in marriage is like an economic decision about income. _Highlights the economic dependence of women._ > It is the comparatively weedy weakling, left mateless by polygyny, who objects. The men who are left without partners are the ones who oppose polygyny. _Explains the male revolt as self-interest._ > If we could get rid of our inferiors and screw up our average quality until mediocrity ceased to be a reproach, thus making every man reasonably eligible as a father and every woman reasonably desirable as a mother, polygyny and polyandry would immediately fall into sincere disrepute. If everyone were of high quality, monogamy would naturally be preferred over sharing partners. _Reveals the eugenic undertone of the argument._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/getting_married_se/chapters/the-male-revolt-against-polygyny - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/getting_married_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/getting_married_se/chapters