Sister Wives & Biblical Roles: Traditional vs. TV

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Polygamy has been around for ages, popping up in all sorts of cultures, religions, and societies. More recently, the TV show Sister Wives tried to give people a glimpse into what a modern polygamous family looks like. However, even though the show was meant to focus on polygamy, it has often drifted away from the more traditional ways of doing things - especially when it comes to Biblical gender roles. In this article, I’ll talk about what sister wives are supposed to be, how Biblical gender roles have shaped traditional polygamy, and where Sister Wives might have steered off course.

Sister Wives: A Look Back in History

When people say “sister wives,” they’re talking about a group of women in a polygamous marriage who see each other more like teammates than rivals. This custom isn’t new; it goes way back to places like ancient Mesopotamia, parts of Africa, and the Middle East. Certain religious groups, like some Muslim communities and certain Christian sects, had rules about polygamy, too.

The idea of sister wives, though, is often linked to Mormonism (the Latter-day Saint movement). Over time, it’s taken on different meanings, but at its core, the concept usually emphasizes unity among the wives rather than competition.

Biblical Gender Roles in Traditional Polygamy

For Christians who practice polygamy (though it’s not super common in mainstream Christianity), the Bible has a big influence on what they think about marriage and gender roles. Lots of people point to stories in the Old Testament, like Abraham, Jacob, and David, where these figures had more than one wife. But if you’ve read those stories, you’ll also see the conflict and stress that sometimes came with it.

Despite that, some supporters of polygamy look to verses like Ephesians 5:22–24 to show that the husband should protect and provide for his wives, while the wives support and submit to him. Within this traditional setup, sister wives are supposed to help each other out, work together, and keep the family strong.

How Sister Wives Strayed from Tradition

When Sister Wives came out in 2010, it set out to pull back the curtain on the lives of a modern polygamous family. But as the show went on, it sometimes seemed more focused on drama and tension than on the traditional polygamous values many people talk about. A few specific things stand out:

1. Misleading Sister Wife Dynamics: The show often highlights the wives clashing with each other, showing jealousy and bickering. That’s not exactly the supportive, tight-knit environment that’s supposed to define sister wives.

2. Unequal Power Play: Traditional polygamy (as some see it) is supposed to have a sort of balance in how the husband and wives relate. But in the show, the husband often looks like he has way more say in what happens, which can give viewers a skewed idea of how polygamy might work in a more traditional sense.

3. Overlooking Spiritual Beliefs: For a lot of families who actually practice polygamy, religion is a huge deal. The show often glosses over these core beliefs, which can make polygamy seem purely dramatic or sensational, rather than rooted in faith and tradition.

What Went Wrong

Overall, Sister Wives might have aimed to educate people about polygamy, but it missed the mark in a few key ways. By zeroing in on drama, rivalry, and controlling behavior, the show didn’t give viewers the full picture of how traditional polygamy is supposed to work, namely, with cooperation, faith, and a balanced family structure.

Wrapping It Up

Even though Sister Wives brought polygamy into mainstream conversation, it hasn’t always reflected the traditional ideas it set out to explore. At its heart, polygamy (in its various forms) is often tied to deep religious convictions and an emphasis on unity among the wives, things that can get overshadowed when a show is trying to keep ratings up. To truly understand the concept of sister wives and Biblical gender roles, it’s important to look beyond the drama on TV and remember that there’s a whole history and belief system guiding the people who live this way.

Published By: Sister Wives 

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