From the Brown Family’s perspective, one big purpose of Sister Wives is to clear up misconceptions many people have about polygamy and to demonstrate how positive it can be. Still, the majority of those closest to the situation — the 17 children from Sister Wives — are unconvinced that plural marriage is right for their futures.
“I would not be able to share my husband like that,” Madison, the daughter of Kody and Janelle’s oldest daughter, said last year. “For me, it wouldn’t make me happy.”
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Teen daughters Aspyn and Mykelti also mentioned they don’t see themselves following in their mothers’ paths. Aspyn specifically noted she doesn’t want to deal with the jealousy that festers in many polygamous relationships.
Logan, the oldest son, said he is less concerned by the jealousy. However, he doesn’t feel particularly called to plural in the way he parents believes polygamists should be.
“From my point of view I had a great childhood and polygamy can be good… But I have no spiritual testimony of it or logical explanation to do it.”
Of the teenage children, only Mariah, daughter to Kody and Meri, took a different stance. She said she “can’t wait” to have sister wives. Based on previews for the upcoming episode, Mariah will open up even more about why she hopes to pursue plural marriage.
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In the clip, Mariah says she wants a big family and to achieve her professional goals. She just doesn’t see the two as being mutually exclusive.
“There’s a stereotype that polygamous women don’t go to college and don’t get an education,” the 17-year-old said in the clip. “That’s not me, because I want an education and I want to become a doctor — but I also want to live plural marriage.”
Although her sisters don’t feel the same way, Aspyn, Madison and Mykelti support Mariah. Mykelti even said she can envision Mariah with four sister wives and 23 children.
Mariah’s desire to live with sister wives may come down to her willingness to accept the good with the bad. As viewers of the show have seen, there are unique and challenging issues for people in plural marriages. Understanding that it’s not right for everyone, members of the Brown Family’s fundamentalist Mormon sect, the Apostolic United Brethren, do not require polygamy. However, they believe that polygamy is an essential step in gaining the highest glories of Heaven.
Catch the upcoming episode of Sister Wives on TLC this Sunday at 9/8 p.m. CST.
