So there is a new show on TLC that I find absolutely gripping. It is called Sister Wives and documents the lives of a polygamist family. The family is trying to dispel the myths and misconceptions of the polygamist lifestyle. Some of the benefits the sister wives claim to benefit from include more time for their personal interests, a better support system and camaraderie, and safety net for the mothers in case they pass on. What I find interesting is to compare my experience with joint Indian families with this lifestyle. In India, it is tradition that the sons of a family keep the family house, and their wives move in joining the husband, parents, brothers, and any unmarried sisters. I became close friends with a woman who lived in such a lifestyle, and she greatly benefited from having another woman in the household. They shared domestic duties and benefited from the efficiencies of economies of scale, and she was able to hold a job at the organization I worked for. The only difference between her and her polygamist counterparts is that she does not have to share a man with anyone. I think it is interesting that the women on Sister Wives each have their own apartment within the home to maintain their autonomy, while the Indian sister-in-laws only have different brothers. In my opinion, sharing a house is much more efficient economically than sharing a husband, and sharing a house is less emotionally taxing than sharing a husband. In the history of time, people have lived many different lifestyles, and the organization of a family structure can be fulfilling in many different ways. From arranged marriages, to plural marriages, to serial marriages, the road to personal fulfillment can be sought in many different ways. I am in no position to comment on which one is the best...but if you have any comments, feel free to share your opinion.
Your CV,
Lauren
