Laws change from culture to culture

• Name 4 acts that there law changes from culture to culture

  Polygamy

  adultery

  homosexuality

  cannabis
• What is polygamy?

  Practice of having more than one wife or husband at the same time

  • polygyny - man with 2 or more wives
  • polyandry - women with 2 or more husbands
• Where is polygamy legal?

  Legal in 58 countries

  • Muslim majority countries - India, Philippines - law permits polygamous marriages only for Muslims
• Where is polygamy a crime?


  In most countries:

  • Turkey and Tunisia
  • Uk anyone who has a marriage whilst married is committing bigamy which is 7 years in prison
• Why do the laws against polygamy vary between cultures?

  (2)

  Religion - Qu’ran permits Muslim men to take up to 4 wives. USA the Mormon Church practised it until 1890 and continues to be practiced illegally in some fundamentalist Mormon groups

  Tradition - practiced in some African Societies - but declined in recent decades
• What is adultery?


  sexual act between 2 people, one or both of whom are married
• Where is adultery legal?

  UK

  India since 2018
• Where is adultery a crime?


  Muslim majority countries and Christian majority countries (Africa, Philippines, 21 U.S States) make it a criminal offence

  punishment is starving to death, canning and fines
• Why do laws against adultery vary between culture?

  (2)

  Religion - condemn it. Not committing adultery is one of the 10 commandments shared by Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

  In societies where law making is strongly influenced by religion it is most likely a crime

  Position of women - found in societies where women occupy a subordinate position
• What is the act of homosexuality?

  sexual acts between the same sex
• Where is it legal?


  UK

  Europe

  North and South America

  India it is legal
• Where is homosexuality a crime?


  Male homosexuality is a crime in 72 countries and female homosexuality is a crime in 45

  In 6 countries it is punishable by death

  Russia it bans promotion of it

  In those countries that legalise it they may not allow some same sex couples to marry or adopt
• Why do laws against homosexuality vary between culture?

  (3)

  Religion - Christianity, Islam and Judaism condemn it.

  Countries where law making is influenced by religion will more than likely make it a crime.

  Public opinion - where religion has a strong influence - 95% in Egypt believe homosexuality should be rejected but others such as Russia do not.

  Sexism - male homosexuality is a crime in more countries than lesbianism - due to sexist assumptions by male law makers - women were incapable of same sex attraction
• Define Cannabis as a crime

  Possession, supplying, growing or importing
• Where is cannabis legal?

  Canada, Uruguay, some states in the United States, and several other countries - for personal recreation or medical use
• Where is cannabis a crime?


  UK - Possession = up to 5 years and a fine

  supplying = up to 14 years
• Why do laws against cannabis vary between cultures?

  (2)

  Different norms and values - societies with greater emphasis on individual freedom may see drug use as victimless. Individuals have a right to do as they wish with their body

  Different ideas about how to control drug use best - lawmakers in some societies take a tougher stance to deter the use so will favour severe penalties, they see it as a gateway to heroin addiction