The four chapters in this section examine central aspects of plural family life. Chapters 16 and 17 address social-emotional relationships between a husband and each wife and between wives, respectively. Chapter 16 examines mechanisms by which each husband–wife pair in a plural family achieves a unique and distinctive relationship from other couples in the family and the implications of failing to do so. It also describes how wives communally facilitate or detract from each others' relationship with their common husband. Chapter 17 focuses on relationships between wives in regard to managing homes, childrearing, and general interpersonal relationships.

Chapter 18 turns to the question of plural family structure, including the patriarchal role of husbands/fathers, the role of wives/mothers, and the means by which they achieve family unity. These issues are explored in case studies of a stable and well-established family, an “experimenting” and growing family, and a composite of disrupted families. Chapter 19 considers family structure as reflected in relationships between husbands and wives and their children, names for newborn children, and the terms children use to refer to their birth mothers and other wives.