Sister Wives

KSUViolet06 · #1 09-27-2010, 10:06 PM

Does anybody else watch this? It's a new show on TLC.

They are a polygamist family. The man has 3 wives and they have (I think) 14 kids.

Wife #3 is pregnant. Husband is also planning to propose to a woman and add a 4th wife (who also has like 3 kids).

Drama ensues. Craziness.

nittanygirl · #2 09-27-2010, 10:11 PM

I've been trying to catch this while its on, but I haven't yet.
I'm slightly intrigued. Do they all live together in a non-cult like setting?

southbymidwest · #3 09-27-2010, 10:18 PM

Saw them on one of the morning shows today. He is only legally married to his first wife. Had "marriage ceremonies" or some such other nonsense with the others. So the others have no legal rights that come with marriage. From what I understand from the interview, should something happen to hubby, legal wife calls the legal shots. Not an attorney, but doesn't that leave the other so called wives and their kids in a very vulnerable position? I absolutely would not want legal wife, no matter how sisterly we are, to have that kind of power over me/my kids. Then we would see how BFF the women are. But that's just me, I am a bit of a cynic.

Drolefille · #4 09-27-2010, 10:25 PM

I watched, there really wasn't any drama or craziness. As I said in another thread, I couldn't find much to complain about.

And their argument would be that plural marriage should be legal. As a pro-polyamory person, I'm not sure I disagree. I know people in poly relationships that are not based on a religious requirement or emphasis and they're incredibly happy. And, these adults grew up in polygamous families and their faith teaches that is the ideal (even if it's currently prohibited in LDS, it is only prohibited because it is illegal).

If we're going to believe that they're unhappy no matter what, well then we're going to believe that, but I think that's a rather silly perspective to take. I don't doubt that there will be some sort of drama through the season, but any more than any other family on reality TV? Probably not.

AXOrushadvisor · #5 09-27-2010, 10:30 PM

I watched it today. It was really interesting.

Drolefille · #6 09-27-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nittanygirl

I've been trying to catch this while its on, but I haven't yet.
I'm slightly intrigued. Do they all live together in a non-cult like setting?

One house, multiple "master" bedrooms/living rooms/kitchens. Not out on a compound. This is like the "Big Love" version of polygamy, not the marrying 18 wives when you're 82 and they're 12 kind.

KSUViolet06 · #7 09-27-2010, 10:39 PM

I do think it's interesting because in most polygamy-related shows, the women don't say much outside of "this is God's will" and "I love my sister-wives, they're my best friends." I think the women on this show are a little different than that.

Ex: First Wife openly admits to being jealous of the others and missing the time when she was the only wife.

victoriana · #8 09-27-2010, 11:13 PM

If she's so jealous, why did she even allow her husband to marry other women anyways? They're all best friends now but like others have said... I think the claws will come out. Reality shows tend to do that to people :P

Lafayette79 · #9 09-28-2010, 12:40 AM

Sometimes, it's best to keep a low profile.

'Sister Wives' stars may face bigamy charge: http://theclicker.todayshow.com/_new...-bigamy-charge

Originally, I thought that this thread was a spin off of the Penn State ASA's comment on "Your Mother's Rush" which is a wonderful thread.

KSUViolet06 · #10 09-28-2010, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victoriana

If she's so jealous, why did she even allow her husband to marry other women anyways? They're all best friends now but like others have said... I think the claws will come out. Reality shows tend to do that to people :P

I'm pretty sure all of the wives come from polygamist homes, so it's normal to them.

EagleChick19 · #11 09-28-2010, 06:50 AM

There was a People article that said that the second wife was the only one not raised in a polygamist home.

blessyourheart · #12 09-28-2010, 08:26 AM

Maybe it's just me, but I am a little creeped out and uncomfortable with the dad. IDK, there's just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. Whenever he talks, I feel a little like he is lecturing us on the virtues of polygamy. It also bothers me a bit that all the mons ride around in monster SUVs to carry all the kids, yet dad's ride is a snazzy 2 seater sports car? I remember when my dad bought sports car right after the birth of my fourth sibling. I thought my mom was going to kill him? And Cody does "sales, advertising"? I know that is a career that requires long hours and travel, yet he sure does seem to be around a lot. So other than chopping the occaissional tree with a manly chain saw, what else does he do around the house other than pat the kids on the head and check his bed schedule and go on dates. With 12 kids and 3 wives there have to be issues, even if its the garden variety Johnny is flunking math and Susie is dating a boy we don't approve of and the water pipe broke. We don't hear much about that, other than how the wives get jealous. Methinks dad-Cody is a controller. Just my impression.

Lil' Hannah · #13 09-28-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

And their argument would be that plural marriage should be legal. As a pro-polyamory person, I'm not sure I disagree.

Keep in mind though, polygamy != polyamory.

BluPhire · #14 09-28-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Hannah

Keep in mind though, polygamy != polyamory.

Exactly

Drolefille · #15 09-28-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I do think it's interesting because in most polygamy-related shows, the women don't say much outside of "this is God's will" and "I love my sister-wives, they're my best friends." I think the women on this show are a little different than that.

Ex: First Wife openly admits to being jealous of the others and missing the time when she was the only wife.

Aye this is a different look. And even as the first wife says she's jealous she admits to being the one who "recruits" the other wives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by victoriana

If she's so jealous, why did she even allow her husband to marry other women anyways? They're all best friends now but like others have said... I think the claws will come out. Reality shows tend to do that to people :P

Because it was worth it to her?
I suspect/fear most of the drama will be from the edited previews and not the show itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lafayette79

Sometimes, it's best to keep a low profile.

'Sister Wives' stars may face bigamy charge: http://theclicker.todayshow.com/_new...-bigamy-charge

Originally, I thought that this thread was a spin off of the Penn State ASA's comment on "Your Mother's Rush" which is a wonderful thread.

Probably won't happen, even if they get charged I don't think they'll follow through. It opens a big can of worms that they're not ready to face. Interestingly Canada has declined to prosecute for bigamy due to freedom of religion.

Whether or not there's benefits fraud going on may be a different issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Hannah

Keep in mind though, polygamy != polyamory.

No shit. Poly's my thesis topic

And technically this is polygyny even if polygamy in this country is used to refer to religious Mormon and Muslim polygamy more than anything else. You couldn't craft a law that would allow multiple marriages for one without the other, which is my point.

Most people's objections to polygamy, FLDS in particular, are that they are patriarchal, forced marriages, with minors. The last two are illegal, and immoral, and should be prosecuted. You can't really DO anything about the patriarchy, not effectively from the outside anyway. And in the end, if these adult women are happy... well why not?

Is allowing multiple legal marriages likely? No. But ceasing to prosecute for multiple non-legal marriages is possible.