The topic of underage courtships in polygamous communities has been an ongoing debate since the late 1850’s and is currently being argued in places all around the world. These types of marriages restrict freedom of women and young children, because men are married to more than one wife, men in polygamous marriages are given full power over each family unit, and these women and young children are often left to live in poverty. However, there are many different cultures that practice polygamy, this research essay will focus on one group known as the Order which is run by an FLDS (Fundamental Church of Latter-Day Saints) church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Members from this group belong to big families, men (usually higher council members) have multiple
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It is also suggested through empirical studies that women and children in polygamist families suffer higher rates of emotional, physical and sexual abuse (Strauss 2012, 518). It has been reported that sexual abuse took place around the age of ten, about eighty-six percent experience physical abuse and seventy-nine percent experience neglect (Bardin 2009, 123). One notable case in 2008 in Texas, a sixteen year old reports to authorities physical and sexual abuse that her forty-nine year old husband had done to her; this resulted in four hundred sixty two children being removed from their families for the concerns of physical and sexual abuse and forced marriages to underage girls. However the end result is discouraging, as all four hundred sixty two children were later returned to their families, because a Texas judge felt that the call was a hoax and deficient in evidence that these children were indeed at risk of abuse (Richards 2010, 217). Although the community knows this goes on, nobody does anything about it because when it is brought to the attention of the authorities, families are spilt apart and sometimes victims do not want to embarrass families and friends (Bardin 2009, 126). So, while leaders in FLDS communities dictated whom and when young women are to marry (Bardin 2009, 130) they fail to …show more content…
Therefore if any affairs need to be dealt with, they (community members) take cases to a “higher council” which consists of their bishops and/or church councillors (Linford 1979, 232). So, that any government cannot interfere in polygamous relationships between ‘consenting’ adults (Richards 2010, 218). But, how can a woman who is pressured into marriage at a young age be consenting? Polygamy seems to ignore the first principles of law when it comes to sexual autonomy, informed consent and protection of
It is also suggested through empirical studies that women and children in polygamist families suffer higher rates of emotional, physical and sexual abuse (Strauss 2012, 518). It has been reported that sexual abuse took place around the age of ten, about eighty-six percent experience physical abuse and seventy-nine percent experience neglect (Bardin 2009, 123). One notable case in 2008 in Texas, a sixteen year old reports to authorities physical and sexual abuse that her forty-nine year old husband had done to her; this resulted in four hundred sixty two children being removed from their families for the concerns of physical and sexual abuse and forced marriages to underage girls. However the end result is discouraging, as all four hundred sixty two children were later returned to their families, because a Texas judge felt that the call was a hoax and deficient in evidence that these children were indeed at risk of abuse (Richards 2010, 217). Although the community knows this goes on, nobody does anything about it because when it is brought to the attention of the authorities, families are spilt apart and sometimes victims do not want to embarrass families and friends (Bardin 2009, 126). So, while leaders in FLDS communities dictated whom and when young women are to marry (Bardin 2009, 130) they fail to …show more content…
Therefore if any affairs need to be dealt with, they (community members) take cases to a “higher council” which consists of their bishops and/or church councillors (Linford 1979, 232). So, that any government cannot interfere in polygamous relationships between ‘consenting’ adults (Richards 2010, 218). But, how can a woman who is pressured into marriage at a young age be consenting? Polygamy seems to ignore the first principles of law when it comes to sexual autonomy, informed consent and protection of