Harem former times, some harems were guarded by eunuchs (castrated men) who were allowed inside. Similar institutions have been common in other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations, especially among royal and upper-class families and the term is sometimes used in non-Islamic contexts. The structure of the harem and the extent of monogamy or polygamy has varied depending on the family's personalities, socio-economic status, and local customs. Although the institution has experienced a sharp decline in the modern era, seclusion of women is still practiced in some parts of the world, such as rural Afghanistan and conservative states of the Gulf region.
What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense In "Prospect", Alex Worsnip, a Teaching Fellow of Philosophy at Yale University concluded that 'the arguments of What Is Marriage [were] no less flimsy than those of other anti-gay marriage crusaders.' He concluded that the 'bad arguments' in the book amounted to 'nonsense.' In 2013, Zachary Young of "The Yale Politic" called it, 'the touchstone for the defense of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife' in "National Review". The book was cited by Justice Samuel Alito in his decision over United States v. Windsor, which led to a repeal of a section of the Defense of Marriage