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The Sociohistorical Context of a Mormon Fundamentalist Polygamous Life

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Abstract

In this chapter, I explore the life stories of Emma, Sarah, and Mary within the sociohistorical context of their polygamous backgrounds. In this study, I explore readiness for higher education across the data, to understand how the sociohistorical context of a polygamous life impacts readiness for higher education. Clear themes emerged across the data that informed understanding of each of the themes that emerged through exploration of each woman’s life stories: experience with academic settings, perceptions of a need for education, non-academic experiences that contributed to readiness for higher education settings, and an independent self-concept. Understanding the patriarchal nature of polygamous communities provides additional insight that helps to understand the impact of a polygamous life on the participant’s readiness for higher education.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This doctrine persists in mainstream LDS doctrine as well. Although polygamy is no longer sanctioned by the church on earth, it will be practiced in the afterlife. This means that a mainstream LDS woman may become a plural wife in the afterlife even if she is in a monogamous relationship during her mortal life.

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Parson, L. (2019). The Sociohistorical Context of a Mormon Fundamentalist Polygamous Life. In: Polygamy, Women, and Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02798-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02798-8_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02797-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02798-8

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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