Polygamy in America: How Marginalized Religious Communities Cope With Stigmatizing Discourses Surrounding Plural Marriage

• In Event: Intergroup Communication Research in Progress

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the narratives of 20 members of “The Work,” a polygamist community in Centennial Park, Arizona to better understand the ways in which religious minorities cope with stigmatizing discourses. This paper examines (a) how participants understand and interpret public discourse surrounding plural marriage, and (b) participants’ communicative strategies for coping with stigma. Grounded theory analysis revealed that the discursive cultural de-legitimation of plural marriage motivates co-cultural members to engage in network management. Four network management strategies were reported by participants: (1) withdrawing from mainstream society, (2) establishing ingroup solidarity, (3) concealing cultural identification, and (4) educating cultural outsiders.

Authors

• Michael Ault, University of Oklahoma

• Bobbi Van Gilder, University of Oklahoma