The Polyandry Transition: Rural Change and Marriage Practices in Nepal's Tibet Frontier Zone

This study analyzes the links between social-economic change and changing marriage practices in the Loba population group (hereafter Loba in Lo-kingdom). Since long ago (until recently), single women of Loba group have been marrying more than one man. All brothers of same household have been sharing a common wife. This fraternal polyandry system has been common in Mongol race Tibetan ethnic group -Loba in Nepal- Tibet frontier zone. Such uncommon polyandrous marriage system is now in transition from polyandry to monogamy. In Tibet polyandry is illegal but still practiced, while in Nepal, polyandry is legal and socially recognized by customary laws. The Loba group is living in a high altitude region in the Nepal - Tibet frontier. This study focuses on the shifting trends of Polyandry marriage and their causes.