Mate Selection in Polygamous Families: A Study of Homogeneity and Values Theories in the Rural Lebanese Context (Beit Leif Village Case Study)

This study explores mate selection processes in polygamous families within the rural Lebanese context, specifically in Beit Leif village, Bint Jbeil district. Utilizing homogeneity and values theories, it analyzes the criteria men use to select multiple wives and the criteria women use to select husbands, examining similarities and differences between first and second wives. A social survey method was employed, collecting data via questionnaires from 84 participants. Results indicate that emotional criteria are paramount for both husbands (60% for first wife, 55% for second) and wives (46.8% for first wife, 43.75% for second) in mate selection. Personal acquaintance between partners, coupled with emotional criteria, mitigates traditional patriarchal constraints in marriage decisions. Notably, the primary criterion converges across first and second wives and for husbands, remaining dominant even in polygamous marriages. The study recommends developing specialized premarital training programs focusing on second-partner selection and ensuring equity among wives.