Originally, after choosing my topic, I planned to focus on Muslim marriage traditions. However, the more I researched, the more corruption was exposed within the sacrament. I don't know about you all, but I find controversial things much more interesting. I would like to begin my speech by saying that although many of the practices I am about to discuss are widely accepted throughout the Middle East, that does not make them justifiable. As with any controversial subject, there are two sides to this argument. Arranged marriages, child marriages and polygamy are practices presented as "traditions", but my aim is to shed light on the subject. It is not uncommon for couples to marry based on caste and wealth rather than monogamy. Several studies have shown that polygamy is more likely to present harmful effects, particularly towards women and children, than monogamy. Women in polygamous marriages are at higher risk of low self-esteem and depression than women in non-polygamous relationships. Other studies show that polygamy can harm 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. Polygamous women have no opinion when it comes to deciding how many wives their husbands add to their family. This forced passivity contributes to feelings of helplessness and psychological abuse. Polygamy can be damaging both physically and emotionally; Women in polygamous marriages are at greater risk of contracting sexual diseases, including AIDS. Men in polygamous marriages are more likely to have sex outside of marriage and are at greater risk of contracting sexual diseases and infecting their wives. Wives are not the only ones affected by polygamy; children from polygamous families may be more exposed to several adverse outcomes. For example, research has shown that it is more common for children in polygamous families to be exposed to a higher incidence of marital conflict, family violence, and family disruption than children in monogamous families. As a result, children from polygamous marriages are at greater risk for behavioral and developmental problems. As you can see, there are many factors that prove that polygamy within marriage can be emotionally and physically harmful to both women and children.