Did you know that there is a country in the world where there are nearly twice as many women as men? Did you know that the laws in this country allow men to have multiple wives at the same time?
Did you know that the country is full of beautiful women and that sex trafficking is legal?
This country is Paraguay. It is located in central South America, bordered by Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the west, and Argentina to the south. It is a landlocked country with no coastline.
The population is about 7 million, of which more than 60% are women.
Paraguay is a strange country that practices polygamy. If a man does not marry his wife, he is sentenced to prison. If a man marries only one wife, he will also be sentenced to prison. Only when a man marries three or more wives can he live legally.
Sounds cool, right? But in fact, Paraguayan men are not happy. As the saying goes, "Drought dies, floods die", Paraguayan men also face various difficulties.
Paraguayan has more women than men
Why does Paraguay have so many more women than men? There are mainly two factors: historical and real.
In late 1864, due to territorial disputes with Argentina and Brazil, Paraguay fought with the Triple Alliance (Empire of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay).
This one-to-three-man war ended in the defeat of Paraguay, which not only dealt a blow to its territory, but also caused catastrophic losses to its population, in which more than 100,000 young soldiers died.
It took decades for Paraguay to recover from the chaos and population loss, but the good times were short-lived, and in 1932, Paraguay went to war with Bolivia, which Paraguay won, but still lost tens of thousands of people.
The two wars completely depleted the country of young men, a situation that has not improved to this day.
The reality is that Paraguay's low level of economic development has led many young men to migrate to work or emigrate.
Due to a lack of education and skills, they tend to work in low-pay, high-risk, high-intensity jobs.
In neighboring Argentina and Brazil, many Paraguayan men work as construction workers, migrant workers and cleaners. The remuneration for doing these jobs will only allow them to make ends meet, let alone return to their own country to marry and have children.
Half-blood country
Since there are so many women in Paraguay, what do they all look like? The answer is: there are all kinds of things.
Due to the historical mix of different nationalities and races, Paraguayan women present a diversity of physical characteristics.
You can see white-skinned, blonde girls of European descent here; You can also see dark-skinned, curly-haired brown-eyed girls of African descent here; You can also see yellow-skinned, dark-haired and black-eyed girls of Asian descent here;
Of course, more of them are mixed-race girls, who have different proportions of European, African, Asian and indigenous ancestry.
In addition to their physical diversity, Paraguayan women also have different personalities and lifestyles. In general, they are warm, open and friendly.
Due to their cultural influence from the West, they are very fond of socializing, dancing and singing. And treat strangers politely and generously.
However, not all Paraguayan women live happily and freely.
Due to economic hardship and social pressures, many young women choose to earn a living by engaging in sex trafficking.
In Paraguay, sex trafficking is legal. You can find "ladies" of all ages, body types, and price ranges on the street, bars, nightclubs or online.
Even underage girls have joined the industry. They have to sell their bodies and dignity in order to earn money to support themselves or their families.
Marriage institutions in Paraguay
For men, polygamy seems like a heavenly institution.
They can legally have multiple wives and enjoy the different customs and services that different wives bring. They can satisfy their desires without fear of being convicted of bigamy or divorced by their wives.
In practice, however, not all men enjoy the benefits of polygamy.
First of all, it is not easy to marry multiple wives. In addition to complying with the law, it is necessary to have sufficient financial capacity and social status. In Paraguay, it is already difficult for a man to support one wife, let alone three or more.
Moreover, it is also a headache for a man to face the emotions, needs and contradictions of multiple wives. Sometimes men feel like a prisoner rather than the head of the family.
Second, polygamy also poses some health and moral risks for men. In Paraguay, sex trafficking is legal, and many men look outside for thrills and pleasure.
This increases the likelihood of contracting STDs or becoming pregnant.
Moreover, if a man has an illegitimate child outside, he must also take on the responsibility of supporting, which will bring more trouble and stress to his already complicated family relationship.
Finally, polygamy can also affect men's perceptions and attitudes towards love and marriage. In Paraguay, many men marry not because of love, but because of legal or social pressure.
They don't have deep feelings for their wives, they just use them as tools or playthings. Nor have they truly experienced the happiness and satisfaction of a lifetime with a loved one.
For women, polygamy is a hellish institution. They are forced to share a husband with other women and endure his fancy and betrayal. They have no freedom and dignity and can only obey their husbands' arrangements and orders. They do not have the opportunity or the right to pursue their dreams and happiness.
However, in practice, not all women are against polygamy.
Some women consider it a tradition and custom that they have become accustomed to. They feel that as long as their husband can give them enough material and security, they can put up with him having other women outside.
They also help and support each other, forming a sisterly relationship.
In addition, some women believe that polygamy also has some advantages. For example, they can share the responsibility of housework and childcare, reducing their own burden and pressure.
They can also learn some skills or knowledge from other wives to improve their qualities and abilities.
They can also find their own interests and hobbies and enjoy some freedom and space when their husbands are not at home.
In conclusion, polygamy has both advantages and disadvantages for Paraguayan men and women. It not only reflects the special national conditions and culture in Paraguay's history, but also exposes the problems and challenges in the process of Paraguay's modernization.
conclusion
Perhaps, in this era of pluralism and openness, we cannot judge the lifestyle of others by our own values, nor can we measure the happiness of others with our own happiness standards.
We should respect the choices and decisions of each country and each individual, and strive to understand the reasons and meanings behind them.