Jeannette Fontenot
Professor Lowe
English 102
July 1, 2013
Legalization of Polygamy
In America today, 30,000-100,000 Americans live a life of polygamy (Luscombe 43). The word polygamy comes from the Greek term which is translated to mean “often married.” There are three different forms of polygamy. These three are polygyny, polyandry, and group marriage (Brooks 22). The largest form of polygamy is polygyny (Hassounen 736). This is from the Greek term meaning “many women or wives” (Brooks 22). The wives may live together or they may each have their own house (Hassounen 736). The second form, polyandry which is the same as polygyny except this time the women are the ones marrying multiple men. Third are group marriages. This is when there is a family unit that involves multiple husbands and multiple wives (Brooks 23). One of the largest and easiest forms of polygamy practiced today in America is polygyny. A huge controversial issue in the United States with polygamy is whether or not it should be legalized. This issue has been debated for many years and still to this day is being debated. Polygamy should not be legalized because America then cannot protect the “victims” of Polygamy. America is the “Land of the free.” Immigrants come to America every day to be free from the torture and governments of all the other countries. The law today says that Polygamy is illegal in the United States. Even though there is this law Polygamist still practice this every day. There are ways around this law just like there are ways around all other laws. One forceful and commanding Polygamist who got around the system was Warren Jeffs. He was the leader of the Fundamentalists Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church). Jeffs soon took control over the FLDS and all of his followers. They became their own community and the consequences for not following all of his rules were not good at all (Gibeaut 49). According to an article, “The Polygamy Paradox” by Nancy Gibbs, his followers were not allowed internet, television, newspaper, basketball, or communication with the outside world. They were allowed IPods, but only to listen to recordings of Jeffs speaking. Gibbs says that the men who were not following Jeffs rules were kicked out and their wives were reassigned and their children were told to just forget about them. All FLDS children were not allowed to attend public school, but “religious” school. This religious school was not like a normal religious school. They did not do mathematics or pray, but they had to listen to Warren Jeffs’ tapes. He had complete control over his whole community. You could not have a job, get married, or wear anything without Jeffs approval (Gibbs). One of the main arguments Polygamist have about legalizing Polygamy is that they should be able to practice it under the freedom of religion. Fry says that “religious beliefs cannot be accepted as a justification for committing an overt criminal act.” She also says “however free the exercise of religion may be, it must be subordinate to the criminal laws of the country” (970). If polygamy was legalized in America other rights of the women and children would be taken away in a Polygamist community. All women in America are treated equal to all of the other citizens unlike in a polygamist relationship where the women are not allowed to do many things. In the article “Should Polygamy be Permitted in the United States?” Susan Deller Ross states that “allowing Polygamy would violate not only the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, but also the U.S. obligation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to ‘ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of sources as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution”( Ross 20). The children of polygamist relationships are not protected either. They are denied a future when living in a community like the FLDS. When living in this kind of community they do not get the freedom of an average everyday American. They do not get to listen to whatever kind of music they want, choose the job they would like, or even get a good education like they should. A former FLDS member, Jessop, wrote “boys and girls, often as young as twelve, leave school and work for FLDS businesses.” Jessop says he remembers children that were “required to be on the worksites by 6am in the morning, work until dark, which could be as late as 9pm.” Fry writes in the same article that “backbreaking labor is the norm and the FLDS compounds, even for children, and physical violence is routine” (974). After a long day of work the children still do not get to come home to what is a “normal” American household. Fry explains that “mothers are encouraged to keep many of their children at arm’s length-hugging, kissing, and signs of affection are frowned upon” (974). Children need many things to grow up and become successful adults. One thing the need is a good education. Another thing is a loving family who will teach them all of the necessities for getting through life on their own. While living in communities like the FLDS these children do not get all of these needs. If America was to legalize Polygamy this problem would only get worse. Polygamy is becoming a bigger and bigger problem in the United States today and without a clearer law on the issue it will only get worse and worse. Without consequences for the actions of a Polygamist, women and children will be denied the freedom that they deserve while living in the United States and will not be able to be their own person. America is supposed to be a safe place to live and supposed to be the “Land of the Free.” America is the country people choose to run away to so that they can be free from torture. They do not come to be held captive in a community where they have to abide by thousands of rules.

Work Cited
Brooks, Thom. “The Problem of Polygamy.” University of Newcastle: 1-23. Academia.edu.
Web. 8 July 2013
Fry, Amy. "Polygamy In America: How The Varying Legal Standards Fail To Protect Mothers
And Children From Its Abuses." St. Louis University Law Journal 54.3 (2010):
967-995. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 July. 2013.
Gibbs, NancyHylton, HilaryOwens-Liston, Peta. "The Polygamy Paradox." Time 170.14 (2007):
48. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 10 July. 2013.
Gibeaut, John. “Violation Or Salvation?.” ABA Journal 93.2 (2007): 26-54. Criminal Justice
Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 10 July 2013.
Hassouneh-Phillips, D. “Polygamy And Wife Abuse: A Qualitative Study Of Muslim Women In
America.” Health Care For Women International 22.8 ( 2001): 735-748. CINAHL Plus
With Full text. Web. 9 July 2013.
Jessop, Carolyn. "Crimes Associated With Polygamy." FDCH Congressional Testimony (n.d.): Military & Government Collection. Web. 10 July. 2013.
Luscombe, Belinda. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do." Time 180.6 (2012): 42-47. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 July. 2013.