Joseph Smith Polygamy - Women as Victims?

Post by **_SatanWasSetUp** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:31 pm

There were many victims. The husbands sent on missions so Joseph could marry their wives, they were victims. Emma, and the first wives of the other polygamous apostles were victims. And, as perverse as it sounds, the women NOT chosen to be in Joseph's harem might have felt betrayed. After all, those chosen to be a polygamous wife with Joseph were pretty much guaranteed Goddess status in the afterlife. Imagine being star struck by Joseph, maybe he even flirted with you a couple times, then find out he picked some other girl and not you. That would totally suck, especially if the other girl isn't all that.

Post by **_Runtu** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:33 pm

Sethbag wrote:Is a girl a victim who gets back-stage passes and ends up getting laid by a rock star? If she's truly star-struck and throws herself at him, then she's a willing participant, but it cannot be denied that she's been used.

Totally agree. There were varying degrees of coercion and willingness, but the bottom line is this is a man who used women sexually. I can't wrap my brain around those who excuse him for it.

Post by **_barrelomonkeys** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:35 pm

SatanWasSetUp wrote:That would totally suck, especially if the other girl isn't all that.

ooh snap girlfriend!

Post by **_MishMagnet** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:38 pm

Personally I find every Mormon woman who has ever lived to be a victim of Joseph Smith.

Flame away.

Post by **_barrelomonkeys** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:39 pm

Runtu wrote:
Sethbag wrote:Is a girl a victim who gets back-stage passes and ends up getting laid by a rock star? If she's truly star-struck and throws herself at him, then she's a willing participant, but it cannot be denied that she's been used.

Totally agree. There were varying degrees of coercion and willingness, but the bottom line is this is a man who used women sexually. I can't wrap my brain around those who excuse him for it.

Well I'm not thinking about excusing him from his poor behavior. No doubt he acted poorly.

I was just thinking about mistress issues (we have one on the board now) and wondering whether or not women that choose to be in those relationships could be looked upon as being a victim. Or even always as being used?

I have these knee jerk reactions and think of women as victims often and wonder if it's warranted.

Post by **_Runtu** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:41 pm

barrelomonkeys wrote:Well I'm not thinking about excusing him from his poor behavior. No doubt he acted poorly.

I was just thinking about mistress issues (we have one on the board now) and wondering whether or not women that choose to be in those relationships could be looked upon as being a victim. Or even always as being used?

I have these knee jerk reactions and think of women as victims often and wonder if it's warranted.

And I agree with you. Some were willing, like our resident mistress. That doesn't mean that the man (Joseph Smith or the mistress's Mormon man) wasn't using them.

Post by **_harmony** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:20 am

MishMagnet wrote:Personally I find every Mormon woman who has ever lived to be a victim of Joseph Smith.

Flame away.

I agree. We still have to live with his legacy: Sex 132.

Post by **_truth dancer** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:35 am

Hi SWSU...

There were many victims. The husbands sent on missions so Joseph could marry their wives, they were victims. Emma, and the first wives of the other polygamous apostles were victims.

EXCELLENT point!

In addition, ALL the girls were victims/survivors.

The adult women who agreed to be used by Joseph Smith most likely did so for a variety of reasons.

Even today, we hear of those women who do not think it would be all that bad to be part of a harem. So absolutely there could have been those who enjoyed the liaison for whatever reason.

~dancer~

Post by **_Mercury** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:55 am

barrelomonkeys wrote:I've read Rough Stone Rolling and have followed this board as well as MAD for about the last year. During that time I always considered the wives as victims of Joseph Smith.

I wonder if it's really an accurate way to think of these women that were the subsequent wives of Joseph Smith. Surely there were a number that were coerced and did not desire to be a polygamous wife. However is it always accurate to think of these women in the sense that they were victims?

Is it a possibility (oh I'm so scared to type this!) that some were star struck and desired to be a lover/wife to Joseph Smith?

Is it just a knee jerk reaction that I have to assume all of the wives were victims? I'm just thinking about how women sometimes desire to latch onto men that they admire, respect, etc... and find validation there and do so through sexualizing themselves.

*edited cause I typed Rough Rolling Stone cause I was thinking about rock stars!! oops!*

They were not wives. They WERE victims. The husbands were victims. There is no other way of describing them other than this.

Post by **_Phaedrus Ut** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:59 am

MishMagnet wrote:Personally I find every Mormon woman who has ever lived to be a victim of Joseph Smith.

Flame away.

Something about this seems to be overstating the case, in my opinion. Of course I am prejudiced by my equipment package and can't say first hand what it's like to be a woman in the church.

My personal favorite is when he was appointed legal guardian for the teenage Lawrence sisters. He took the girls into his home and before you know it Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am he's married both of them!

Phaedrus

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Joseph Smith Polygamy - Women as Victims?

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