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A confluence of history and modernity, household economics, and cultural influences coalesce to make defining the “typical” Senegalese family a formidable task. Senegalese families take both monogamous and polygynous1 forms, exhibit a broad array of power arrangements between husband and wife, differ by ethnic group, and present distinctive forms in rural and urban areas. The high urbanization rate provides some indication of the social change that has influenced and continues to shape Senegalese families. When Senegal established its independence from France in 1960, just 23 percent of the population lived in urban areas compared with over 40 percent today. The urbanized areas of Senegal display social patterns such as later ages of marriage, higher rates of divorce, lower rates of polygyny, and lower rates of fertility compared with rural areas and with the national average fertility rate. The rural or urban residence of Senegalese families affects both economic well-being and social norms. Economically, there are more opportunities for both men and women in urban areas. Families in rural areas are poor, while those who live in urban areas are largely poor but display a wider range of socioeconomic levels. This economic variation between rural and urban areas takes place within the larger context of a generally depressed economy with high unemployment and a large informal sector (Panhuys, Farrell, & Seck, 1989).