Thread - Polygyny in modern times :

Certainly muslim women have choice to chose their life partner as per their will.

In past, the cultural norms were such that it was accepted for women to marry a much older guy & to be a co-wife.

Because, those days, marrying several times in life was usual. If a woman would be widow or divorcee, she'd find no difficulty in getting as good marriage proposals as unmarried women, again one reason being the prevalence of polygyny.

These days women & society are concerned about age difference. Women, men & modern society find polygyny unpleasant. Other than it being a prevalent custom of these times to marry only one, it's also known that divorcees & widows find it difficult to get good marriage proposals

Though consent of wife is not obligatory for the validity of marrying second, it's advisable to consult & convince her. Some scholars say, if a woman stipulates the condition of not marrying second, then it's binding on husband, however, others say it's not backed by any texts.

It's advisable to stick to one wife these days for the the fear of fitnah, apart from being it very difficult to do justice with both. The matter of justice which is required for it is so intricate that if people would consider it before going for second wife, they'd avoid it.

These days, if anyone goes for second wife, it's usually men with extra-marietal affairs. Despite being married, they go for extra-marietal affairs, then they go for the option of marriage. This certainly upsets his wife, because he has been disloyal to her.

then either he threatens her with divorce or she threatens him with khul (seperation), result is breaking marriage & suffering of children based on man's lust & illegal extra-marital affair,

and then he'll invoke the permissibility of marrying 4 to justify it. This is certainly misuse of Sharee'ah and also such men can't do justice with both, because he has already cheated her & been disloyal to her and obviously loves second more than first.

On the other hand, if a God fearing man who can afford it & do justice with both or uses the option of polygyny to marry a poor, divorcee, widower, because they're not getting proposals, then this is a praiseworthy action, and his wife should not object or seek seperation.

Also, better than being with an abusive, violent husband with no character, it'd be better to be a co-wife to a man who is God fearing, loving & does justice with her.

P.S : This is for academic purposes.
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@DrHarshiParimoo uspe nazre saani kijiye.