God Save Us From Stupid Articles

Okay, so I am on a newsgroup that provides me with articles on polygamy on a daily basis.  I usually glaze through them.  But occasionally, I will see a glaring example of how there are still false stereotypes about polygamists.  One article irked me.  Check it out here.

It is about the Darger family (whom I used to know back in the day).  They were recently featured on TLC's  "Sister Wives", and this is the passage that bugged me:

"The Dargers are definitely unique. For one, the wives are pretty glamorous for polygamists. They are very fit (they work out as a family,) and seem to care about things like hair, makeup and clothes; but that wasn’t always the case..."

And...

"They say they are of an independent polygamist faith, and from their clothing and hair in the old photos it looks at one time they may have been a part of a separatist Warren Jeffs’-type polygamist community. Vicky’s sister Valerie even speaks of leaving a “dysfunctional” polygamist marriage in order to save her children. The Brown family also likes to make a distinction between their family’s faith and the Warren Jeffs community, or any polygamists that abuse women, marry children, and or abuse the welfare system."


1)  The Dargers are "unique" because they are glamorous?  Granted, many polygamists are plain, but that doesn't apply to EVERY polygamist.  We are not all Amish.  If you think that polygamists are ignorant of fashion, check out my Music or Movie blogs.  That is not someone who is sheltered and isolated from the world.  I am not going to be wowed by your fandangled cell phones.  I have one.

The Darger family used to hold dances every month at the Murray City Park in Utah.  I used to attend them.  Yes, there were the waltzes and polkas that seem to figure in most polygamist dances, but they ended every single dance with Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild".

So, the Darger Family...  Glamorous?  Yes, but certainly not "unique"...

2)  They are "fit"?  Okay, so I personally have a weight issue.  Okay, I am just grossly fat.  (Check out the comments on my YouTube video for confirmation of this.)  But I think that I am more the exception than the rule.  Excuse me?  Is there a stereotype that polygamists are fat??  Where did that come from?  Most polygamist men seem to work in the construction industry and are pretty fit.  And "I" may be fat, but my wives certainly were not.

3)  They care about things like hair, makeup and clothes?  Are you kidding?  Polygamists don't care about hair?  Or makeup?  Or clothes?  Do polygamists run around naked?  And amongst the FLDS, some of them put a lot of money into their pioneer dresses.  And the bouffant hairdo that the women favor?  They put a lot of work into that look, even using sugar water to hold their hair in place.  They care very much about their appearance.  So dressing up is not something unique to monogamists.

4)  Their clothing and their hair indicated that they belonged to some separatist, Warren Jeffs-type polygamist community?  Now, I admit, in times past, most polygamists looked the same - long hair and long dresses for the women.  It didn't matter whether you were FLDS, in the AUB, or an Independent. They all kind of dressed the same.  But that hasn't been true for a long time.  And I have known the Dargers for a long time.  And they never belonged to any community, per se.  They were Independents.

5)  "Polygamists who abuse women, marry children, and abuse the welfare system?"  Clearly, this author has bought into the negative stereotypes.  Where do they find these kind of journalists?  Do monogamous men ever abuse women?  Do they ever marry children?  Do they abuse the welfare system?  Why is it okay to believe stereotypes about polygamists, but not about other groups?

This is one of the worst articles about polygamy that I have ever read.  I don't know how this stuff passes off as journalism.