Religion As A Root Cause Of Polygamy And Its Effects

Shortly after the Second World War a small group of polygamist traveled to British Columbia determent to set their own community. They bought land in Bountiful, located in the Creston Valley because it was a private and remote spot. The community was very secrete and able to practice their beliefs even after the official Mormon Church banned polygamy in 1890. Through the eyes of Canadian governments and its population polygamy is illegal and therefore we label polygamy as an issue. Based on the limited history of community's like Bountiful the root cause of polygamy is assessed to be religion. Even though polygamy has one major root cause, there are many issues caused that prevent polygamy from decriminalization. Some listed and discussed below from specific examples and statistics in North America.

-It has been reported that girls in Bountiful community only attend school until grade 10. After that they often get married and start their families. It is visible that education is very limited for children, especially for girls. The lack of education dose not allow career growth and self independence for women in polygamous lifestyles.                                                                                 

    -  In  April 2007 Texas authorities pulled 400 children from the secretive religious retreat built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. The children have been legally taken into state custody. One of many state investigation is the case of a teenage girl married to a 50 year old member of Warrens Jeffs community who had a baby at the age of fifteen. Texas law, prohibits girls under age 16 to marry, even with parental approval. Based on these statistics we can see the issue of underage marriages polygamous communities practice.

Source:  400 children pulled from
Texas polygamist compound
(website: www.cbc.ca)

-In 2011 Bruce Klette the provinces Vital Statistics Agency examined Bountiful birth records between 1986 to 2009  which indicate that 1 in 10 children are born from mothers under the age of 18 and identified 883 births to 215 mothers and 142 fathers. These statistics show the presence of polygamy and child  brides. A man with multiple wives and children is incapable to ensure equality of each women and raising his children.

    After all polygamy violates women rights, teaches young boys to marry with underage girls, creates unstable marriages, incest practices, polygamous communities cause physical, emotional and sexually abuse to the children as well as women, under-aged marriages, and child brides. These are some of the reasons why polygamy was made illegal in North America and still remains to be.