[Gondring]

As the article says, "fraternal polyandry."

One of the most unusual (and disturbing) social systems.

Probably less harsh than the "50% of men must remain single" alternative.

A form of population control in harsh lands with few resources.

That resource being "women."

[Natchez Hawk]

The article does say that...and if I read more more closely I wouldn’t have repeated...

oops;^)!

[Mrs. Don-o]

I was reading recently about gynecide (the selective killing of unborn and newborn female infants) in China and India. One consequence is this scarcity of females. creating intense marital rivalry. In some places, females in cities are being abducted and shipped to remote places to be shared wives of brothers, and other threesome arrangements.

Note that they all agreed that they needed children.

The poorer you are in a rural society, the less you can afford NOT having children. The children will be making some small economic contribution as early as age 4 (picking up sticks for firewood, picking bugs off the bean plants, keeping an eye on 8 month old brother); they may be actually pulling their own weight in terms of economic contribution by the time they're 8 or 9; after that, it's all increased productivity for ther benefit of the whole family.