New from Utah State University Press:
The Polygamy Question, edited by
Janet Bennion (Lyndon State College) and
Lisa Fishbayn Joffe (Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, Brandeis University). Here's a description from the Press:
The practice of polygamy occupies a unique place in North American
history and has had a profound effect on its legal and social
development. The Polygamy Question explores the ways in which
indigenous and immigrant polygamous practices have shaped the lives of
individuals, communities, and the broader societies that have engaged
with it. The book also considers how polygamy challenges our traditional
notions of gender and marriage and how it might be effectively
regulated to comport with contemporary notions of justice.
The contributors to this volume—scholars of law, anthropology,
sociology, political science, economics, and religious
studies—disentangle diverse forms of polygamy and polyamory practiced
among a range of religious and national backgrounds including Mormon and
Muslim. They chart the harms and benefits these models have on
practicing women, children, and men, whether they are members of
independent families or of coherent religious groups. Contributors also
address the complexities of evaluating this form of marriage and the
ethical and legal issues surrounding regulation of the practice,
including the pros and cons of legalization.
Plural marriage is the next frontier of North American marriage law
and possibly the next civil rights battlefield. Students and scholars
interested in polygamy, marriage, and family will find much of interest
in The Polygamy Question.
Contributors: Kerry Abrams, Martha Bailey, Lori G. Beaman,
Janet Bennion, Jonathan Cowden, Shoshana Grossbard, Melanie Heath, Debra
Majeed, Rose McDermott, Sarah Song, Irene Strassberg
For more information, including a TOC and sample chapter, follow the
link.
