Final answer:
Fraternal polyandry is a marriage practice in Nepal where one woman marries multiple men (usually brothers) to prevent family asset division and maintain economic stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fraternal polyandry is defined as a pattern of marriage practiced in Nepal that functions to protect the wife and to consolidate the family's economic assets. This form of marriage is where a single woman is married to multiple men, typically brothers, which is a distinct social practice aimed at preventing the division of family property and ensuring economic stability. In regions with limited arable land and resources, such as in rural Nepal, fraternal polyandry helps to maintain the family estate intact and minimize population growth, two challenges particularly relevant in densely populated and resource-scarce communities.
In addition to economic benefits, fraternal polyandry also provides a social structure for sharing labor within the family. Brothers take turns working away from home to tend to agricultural duties or animal herds and spend time with the shared wife when at home. The practice has deep historical roots and continues to be relevant in specific cultural contexts within Nepal, despite being a less common marriage structure globally.