With all the news lately about the polygamy crack-down in Texas, I have been thinking about this religious practice a lot. I admit, I know little about polygamy, but from what I do know it is an institution within which men hold all the power. Some of the women of polygamy say that they run their households, and have freedom of choice, but after seeing these women in television interviews (I cannot believe they are submitting to this), it makes it seem even worse than what I have seen in documentaries. The part that makes me worry about this lifestyle is that they have some sort of ranking system within the marriages, (they go by first wife, second wife, etc).
Even though I am not a fan of polygamy, but I do believe adults should be allowed to do as they please, as long as they are competent in their mental capacity to do so. But the women I have seen speaking out from this media debacle, prove to me that they are not in fact competent in hardly any way, except to possibly bear children and raise them to be followers. I do watch the HBO show Big Love, (purely out of entertainment value), and I do not think it portrays the true colors of this institution. The women who are choosing to go on television in an attempt to make the rest of America feel sorry for them are showing us the true colors of this and I do not think it is going to make their case any stronger for their husband(s). The link I attached is from an interview with three of the wives from the compound in San Angelo, Texas.
So I wanted to know what everyone's thoughts are on this subject, and if anyone has ever heard of polyandry, (the opposite of polygamy).
6 comments:
I also do not know much about polygamy. I was in a class last year that looked at polygamy from a financial standpoint. From this standpoint, I guess one can argue that there is no reason polygamy should be illegal. It was argued whose business is it if the man can financially support all his wives. I sort of agree with that opinion as long as the women who are involved with these men are fully capable of making this decision for them.
However, I disagree with polygamy because they raise their children to participate in the same practices. It’s one thing if grown women choose to live this lifestyle and agree to be ranked and controlled by the male, who acts as the head of the household. But I think that the “religious practice” does not allow for the children to know and anything different and then they are sucked into this controversial practice.
I was going to bring up this same subject myself as I watched and listened to the women in a television morning news program. I was a little disbelieving at the affect the women who spoke seemed to have. It was almost as if they were disconnected from real life, suspended in a sense in their own world. They didn't always seem to comprehend the questions that were asked and certainly they avoided some questions all together, repeating over and over that they loved their children and would not answer anything else.
What I also found interesting is that the men are in complete control of the compound, yet it is the women that are being brought out to speak. What does this say about their society and manipulation and what does it say about our society. I think taht their plan was to put up a sympathetic front and have society feel sorry for these mothers. Had the men spoke, I believe that our society would have looked at them in contempt and not had any sympathy for their positions.
Also I'm not sure what the class thursnitesoundtrack was in said about the financial aspects of polygamy, but I believe that many involved are not financially able to care for the many wives and children that they have and some rely on outside support.
Although in looking at the sect in Texas it appears that they are trying to be selfsufficient as a whole and not rely on outside intervention in any way.
I completely agree with you on this one. It was almost as if when you looked into the women's eyes they were empty and lifeless. I could not imagine a life with no meaning other than bearing multiple children. I coudln't imagine these women could feel emotionally fulfilled when they are sharing their husband and families with other women. However, if you stop for a minute and think about it from their point of view, it is quite chilling. While I have been watching the coverage on this issue I have been trying to think of what it would be like to be these women. I wonder what it would be like to have been born into a religion that had such extreme beliefs and practices. There are millions of religions and pracitices all over the world and I have come to believe that there is not one right way to do these. These people were born without any other influences and truly think that they are living their lives the best way they can. They must look at us as outsiders and are astounded at our lifestyle and "lack of morals". I understand that what they are doing is wrong and that they are sexually abusing their children. I feel horrible for the girls who are forced into motherhood before they are even old enough to attend high school, but there are other cultures in our world that take part in these practices. However, we make consider these other cultures to be primitive and lacking of current knowledge and technologies. Although I do believe that everyone has the right to believe in their own religion, but their practices are against the US law. They still live in our country and our country has the right to defend these children and stop this abuse from happening again.
I know very little on polygamy. I know there religion is mormanism. I think (don't quote me) that the reason they believe in polygamy, is because they think their "god" is off on a different planet, and he has sex with all these different angels and they make "spiritual babies." Now, I don't know 100% sure if these are their full views, but I have heard it's close.
I watched the interviews as well, with Larry King Live. Th womens' interviews were almost scripted. When they were asked a question they didn't know how they should answer, you could almost see their minds scrambling.
Polygamy disgusts me...especially when children are involved. Children being married at 16!!! I understand that they are human beings as well, and have a right to their own rights...but come on...when you are endangering children because they think what their doing is "right"...someone has to step in and put a stop to this!!!!!!!!!
I believe that we are drawing our conclusions from what we feel is "normal." In this society, a single man and a single woman can legally marry. However, if way back when Mormons had won the debate/war/struggle, men would all have multiple wives and practice polygamy because that would have been the norm.
You have to remember that society/gender perceptions/gender roles/marriage practices are all a reflection of our history and history is written by the winners of the debate/wars/struggles.
For a wide array of different marriage practices/relationships, take a look outside of the US at indigenous tribes and cultures that have remained remote from modern society. For Example, some places in the middle east women are expected to be covered from head to toe. We think this is weird, but they look at American women and think they are philandering around.
I feel very torn on this point. I agree that it is wrong for us to draw conclusions about something that we know nothing about from a personal standpoint. However, I also find it really disturbing that men in this situation could be intimate with such young girls and without their consent. How scary and traumatic for the girl!!
Their religious views should be theirs to practice; however, those who perform jihads as part of their religious views are not, and should not be tolerated. So where is the line on this subject?
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