The Institute of Asian Studies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam is pleased to celebrate the milestone of IAS Working Paper No. 80: Polygamy in Brunei: Examining the Family Structure and Experiences of Half-Siblings by the inaugural Victor T. King Prize Winner, Amirah Japar.
Please see below for details.
Abstract:This paper explores the unique experiences of individuals within polygamous families, specifically from the lens of the offspring – a viewpoint not commonly considered before making decisions to enter this arrangement. Drawing on interviews with eight Malay Muslim Bruneians, this study provides insight into the significance of family cohesion on the lives of half-siblings. Relations between half-siblings are heavily influenced by other family members, namely the father’s fairness and the mother’s acceptance. Although there is a spectrum in the level of cohesion between half-siblings, there is no denying that polygamy brings with it significantly more negative effects than positive ones on the participants’ lives regarding their social development, interpersonal relations, financial stability, and academic performance. This extends the current studies on such families in Brunei and documents how the offspring within polygamous families navigate their way through living in a non-conventional family structure.
Author
Amirah Japar completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology, graduating with First Class Honours. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Institute of Asian Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Her research interests are on family and education, with current research exploring the role of family capital on the experiences of first-generation university students in Brunei.
To see more IAS Working Papers, please visit the IAS Working Papers web page.
