Hidden Wives vs. Sister Wives

Kate&Mark

For those that have read/seen both: Aside from the obvious issues of abuse and incest, were there any similarities or differences that surpried you?

I haven't watched much of SW, but I do remember them talking about healthcare/how they were afraid to put everyone on the Dad's policy. I thought it was interesting that was similar in both.

The book seemed to be much more about the church community - I can't remember anything from SW where they were actively participating in things with a religious community.

AlyciaandRich

In Sisiter Wives they didn't participate in a religious community probably because most polygamist are not out in the open so they probably practice as a family. The show really doesn't talk about the religous aspect much at all. The older daughter did go to a religous school rather then public school but they never talk about if it was just a mormon school or something else. Have you ever watched Big Love on HBO it is over now but that shows both aspects of polygamy. Of course it is HBO so it goes to the extreme.

reenie83

Both the book and the show commented about only the first wife's children being the only ones publicly acknowledged by the dad. I just think of how much that would suck to feel like a dirty secret of your father's, even though your parents are "married." 

ktwed09

I also thought it was interesting how both the book and the show touch on the issues of jealousy amongst the wives. Also, I don't know if they said it on the show, or if I read it somewhere, but I think the family on Sister Wives claim that they agreed to do the reality show to try to show the world that not all polygamist families support incest, or marrying off 14 year old girls to 50 year old men, since those are the stories you often seen in the media, and that's pretty much what we saw in Hidden Wives.