THE LOST BOYS OF POLYGAMY

We're trying something new. We are combining posts of similar genre to make it easier to find for the new viewer. Let us know what you think. Older posts will always be on the bottom.

The Forgotten Victims of Polygamy  

"A different take on the Lost Boys; what if polygamy were legalized, what would happen to them?"

Doesn't their expressions just break your heart when you realize there are hundreds more? 

Lost Boys:  A Math Lesson

It is simple math.  With a normal male to female ratio of 1:1, in communities and societies where some men have more than 1 wife, others will have none.  

Lost boys have been pressured to leave, or excommunicated from, polygamous groups such as the FLDS, often for made up offenses such as watching TV or movies or talking to a girl.  The real reason they are banished is to remove competition for wives.  These Lost Boys are usually removed from the community during their vulnerable teen years.  They leave with little education or life skills, no money and only the clothes on their back, and very little knowledge of the outside world, which they have been taught to fear.  Their families have been told to shun them and they are left to fend for themselves.  They live in abandoned cars or behind dumpsters.  Many turn to drugs and/or crime to cope.  They have a high suicide rate.

Dan Fischer, a dentist and former FLDS member, has begun a foundation to help Lost Boys.

These Lost Boys have taught us that it is simple math.  In communities and societies where some men have more than one wife, there will be a shortage of marriageable women.  

If polygamy is legalized, what would happen in a society with an excess of marriage-minded men and a shortage of marriageable women?

We might find the answer in China.  Due to Chinese traditions, a tough one-child-per couple policy, and modern medical technology, there is a growing demographic imbalance.  In 2000, there were almost 117 boys born for every 100 girls and this ratio is increasing.  Over the next 20 years almost 40 million young Chinese men won’t be able to marry and have families because there won’t be enough wives to go around, similar to polygamous communities.

Researchers say growing numbers of lonely men will pose a threat to social order.  They say research shows that a lack of sexual affection results in an increase in violence.  Researchers are finding that Chinese women can now be pickier about who they marry:  healthier and, most importantly, wealthier.  So the young men move away to find better jobs.  The researchers say aggressive behavior is becoming more common among young men grouped together, away from women and far from home.  Crime is rising, including black markets for baby girls and abducted women, and an increase in trafficking of girls (sound familiar from the Warren Jeffs case).  Similar situations exist in parts of India and Pakistan.

Authorities have few options.  They can impose authoritarian rule; send the men off to war;  provide them with jobs on public works projects (if they have the money to create such projects) or provide them with security forces jobs.  Would that work in the U.S.?  Probably not.  But it is simple math, in communities and societies where some men have more than 1 wife, others will have none.  

Still think legalized polygamy is harmless if it could lead to consequences like this?

Discussion and comments below!

Written by Terrasola 

__________________________________________________________________

Story #1 July 2011
"Polygamy ?? Natural Ratio of Men to Women Shortage AUB Summit" 

This is a terrible tape, be forewarned. I found it fascinating that there are all these clips of the AUB Summit, (we've shown a couple) and when they get on the ONE topic I am interested in, the sound goes bad...... hence.... no answers. In my feeble mind, if Anne Wilde and others wanted this addressed, it would be presented very clear and precise. 

My transcription, minus all the quotes, starting at abt. 1:08

To begin with, there’s the perception that we have 92 wives and 500 kids. Which is absolutely not true. We did a survey not too long ago and the aver. # of plural wives is just 2 or 3. There are some that are larger, but that’s not the case, generally speaking. Another thing, when you consider a Fundamentalist Mormon that is somebody who believes ……. OF COURSE, it tears up! NO ANSWERS!!!!! All the cameramen are shown, but there are no other clips from the same Summit on you tube.

Nice. Real nice. (Saying in disgust like Christine found out about the wedding dress.)
Can anyone answer the question, what happens to the "Extra" boys, and what does the AUB say about it? Not, FLDS or others, I'm interested in what the AUB has to say about it.

Tweet