Women of Principle: Female Networking in Contemporary Mormon Polygyny [Hardcover]

Janet Bennion (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 1998

This book offers an in-depth study of the female experience in one Mormon polygynous community, the Apostolic United Brethren. Women in such rigid, patriarchal religious groups are commonly portrayed as the oppressed, powerless victims of male domination. Janet Bennion shows, however, that the reality is far more complex. Many women converts are attracted to this group, and they are much more likely than male converts to remain there. Often these women are seeking improved socio-economic status for themselves and their children, as well as an escape from their marginalized status in the mainstream Mormon church. In the polygynous group women experience rapid assimilation, autonomy, and upward mobility. Bennion supports her study with narratives from the lives of women now living in the group--narratives that clearly reveal why many mainstream Mormon women are viewing polygyny as a viable alternative to the difficulties to single-motherhood, "spinsterhood," poverty, and emotional deprivation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Using narratives from women in the Allred Mormom community, [Bennion] is able to show a variety of women's experiences, voices, and realities which reveal the positive and negative aspects of polygyny for these Mormon women. Women of Principle is a provocative study that will be of great interest to students and scholars of religion, anthropology, and gender studies."--Center for Women and Religion Newsletter

"...she persuasively challenges predominant stereotypes about women's experience in patriarchal religions....Women of Principle is brisk, lively, and engrossing....Recommended for general readers and all academic levels."--Choice

About the Author

Janet Bennion is at University of Maine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195120701
• ISBN-13: 978-0195120707
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,985,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The characters come to life, February 7, 2000

By 

John Llewellyn (Bluffdale, Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women of Principle: Female Networking in Contemporary Mormon Polygyny (Hardcover)

Women of Principle offers an in-depth study of the female experience in one Mormon polygymous community, the Apostolic United Brethren. Characteristically, women in such rigid and patriarchal religious groups are portrayed as the oppressed, powerless victims of male domination. Janet Bennion shows, however, that the reality is far more complex. Many female converts are attracted to this community, and they are more likely than male converts to remain there. Often these women are seeking improved socio-economic status for themselves and their children, as well as an escape from their marginalized status in the mainstream Mormon chruch. In the polygynous group women experience rapid assimilation, autonomy, and upward mobility. Their success is attributed to their reliance on the economic and spiritual networks they form with other women. Women of Principle is not just a textbook but will appeal to everyone interested in the polygamous lifestyle. Bennion's characters come to life and are not treated like clinical specimens. John R. Llewellyn, author of, Murder of a Prophet, The Dark Side of Utah Polygamy.