Initially, after choosing my topic, I planned to focus on Muslim marriage traditions; however, the more I researched, the more corruption was revealed within the sacrament. I don't know about all of you, but I find controversial things much more interesting. I would like to preface my speech by saying that although many of the practices I will discuss are widely accepted throughout the Middle East, this does not make them justifiable. Like all controversial topics, there are two sides to this topic. Arranged marriages, child marriage and polygamy are practices passed off as “traditions,” but my goal is to shed light on the topic. It is not uncommon for couples to marry based on caste and wealth rather than caste. Several studies have shown that polygamy is more likely to have harmful effects, especially towards women and children, than monogamy. Women living in polygamous marriages are at greater risk of low self-esteem and depression than women living in non-polygamous relationships. Other studies show that polygamy can be detrimental to women's overall marital satisfaction. This only increases during a woman's pregnancy. Women are more likely to feel vulnerable or depressed during pregnancy, because their husbands are more likely to pay attention to other (non-pregnant) wives. Women in polygamous marriages have no opinions when it comes to deciding the number of wives the husband adds to the family. This forced passivity contributes to feelings of helplessness and emotional abuse. Polygamy can be harmful both physically and emotionally; Women in polygamous marriages are at greater risk of contracting sexual diseases, including AIDS. Men living in polygamous marriages are more likely to participate in extramarital sex and are at greater risk of contracting sexual diseases and infecting their wives. Wives aren't the only ones affected by polygamy; Children from polygamous families may be at greater risk for numerous harmful effects. For example, research has shown that it is more common for children from polygamous families to experience a higher incidence of marital conflict, family violence, and family breakdown than children from monogamous families. As a result, children born into polygamous marriages are at greater risk of both behavioral and developmental problems. As you can see, there are numerous factors that demonstrate that polygamy in marriage can be emotionally and physically harmful to both wives and children.