 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Sister Wives
- TLC
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
Docu-series turns polygamists into reality stars.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this reality series presents the polygamist lifestyle as one that's both positive and healthy for those who choose to live it. Much of the show's focus is on the relationship between the sister wives themselves and their ability to deal with their husband’s courtship of a potential fourth wife. There’s no proselytizing here, but the family occasionally makes references to being fearful of living out in the open and dealing with prejudice. There are also some mild conversations about the importance of healthy sexual relationships between each individual sister wife and their husband.
What's the story?
SISTER WIVES follows the day-to-day life of an American polygamist family. Husband Kody Brown and his three wives -- Meri, Janelle, and Christine -- negotiate their relationships with each other, their 13 children, and, on occasion, with the mainstream world. Viewers also get to see how the courting and introduction of a fourth wife, Robyn, into the family circle impacts the wives, as well as the overall family dynamic.
Is it any good?
Sister Wives offers a fairly voyeuristic look at plural marriage from the point of view of people who have chosen to live according to a religious doctrine that promotes it. The series' intent is to show how complex this cohabitation lifestyle is and to counter some of the stereotypes about plural marriage that exist today. But while Brown and his family discuss some of the challenges that come with choosing their lifestyle, including the emotional and financial burdens it creates, overall the series paints a happy picture that sometimes seems a little too idyllic.
The family is very likable, and they seem to be a bit worldlier and open compared to other plural families (both real and fictional) depicted in the media. Despite all of this, some of the choices they make and other unspoken signs indicate that they're sometimes not as comfortable in the mainstream as they appear on camera. Nonetheless, the show ultimately offers viewers a unique chance to see real people openly share their experiences as part of a plural family.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the lifestyle presented in this show. Why/how do some families practice polygamy if it's illegal in the United States?
What are some of the stereotypes surrounding polygamists? Do you think this show contradicts some of these stereotypes?
Why do you think this family agreed to be in a TV show?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Send a message to break the law?
Polygamy is illegal in the United States. While I watched the show to figure out why anyone would agree to be a sister wife and share their husband, I'm not sure that shows that undermine the laws of this country is the best thing for younger kids to watch.
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AGE
No thanks!!!
Can't stand it, there is nothing positive about women having to share their husband. That is not love, you cannot tell me that this is not sexist, if a woman did that (which for the record I would think is just as bad as a man having multiple wives), no one would accept it, but because woman are viewed differently, they think it's ok. It's not breaking stereo types, it's breaking morals, and I'm pretty sure the law in most states.
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AGE
Having a full understanding of the Roots and Application of Polygamy
My geneology is packed full of polygimists. They were the early Mormon pioneers that settled Salt Lake City and many other towns in Utah in the 1800"s. I have a Mormon Prophet in my family tree, Lorenzo Snow. My family built the Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle Organ. I was a Mormon for many years and have studied the history and principles further than most mainstream Mormons. However, I have never believed that the principle was spiritually or morally correct. In the New Testament God forbade polygamy after the Abraham debacle with Haggar. The Mormons believe that the word of Joseph Smith was inspired. I strongly disagree as he was actually a fallen prophet if you care to read the history. The show Sister Wives is totally surpirsing to me. It is sad to me to see Meri cry and deal with accepting the sharing of a husband though she proclaims it is her wish to live in this situation. But it is heartbreaking to watch her sorrow, especially since Cody chose Robin for a 4th wife. It's very disturbing. There is not much film on Cody's relationship with his children not like the Duggard's. I feel that he [Cody] is narcissitic to a degree and the children are just there and that he doesn't really have a major part in their lives. The FLDS are a peculiar bunch and it has to be noted that there is extreme indocrination,brainwashing and manipulation regarding religion in this situation. The practice is totally unacceptable to me but the show leaves me with my jaw dropped as I can hardly believe what I am seeing, from the women especially.
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AGE
You shouldn't be criticized if your different
I have no problem with this show. This is a lifestyle like so many others that people have chose to follow. If you have watched the show, you will see that the browns are like any other family. They have jobs and make a living, they are good parents and focus in their kids. If you really think about it there like anybody else, they just do things differently. And of course people are going to say "Eww, how sick is that!" but we all live differently, and have different views on life. It's not like the sisterwives were forced into this, they each chose it bc it's what they wanted. It's kinda sad how close-minded people are and how our goverment tries to keep us in a box, when all we were ever taught was to learn about our rights and freedoms. I've been watching the show and I really like it! It teaches you that Being different shouldn't be bad. And this can apply to everyday life as well. I don't know why people try to make it look like it's an "abomination" But then again that's just me
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AGE
Breaking sterotypes, an outside look at polygamy.
This show was definitely interesting. And I think I'm going to keep watching. And I learned a lot . . . But I'm not sure if I liked it all that much. Basically, Sister Wives kills any definition that you had of polygamy. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that we think of outdated towns in Utah where plural marriage dominates and men control women, girls are forced into being married to much older men. But this wasn't actually the case with Sister Wives. The kids seem more like us then not, they wear jeans and tee shirts, all have different dreams, and the sister wives and the dad are okay with that. It's sort of a topic that grosses me out, but I liked learning more.
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AGE
Never watch Sister Wives!
I think polygamy is wrong and stupid. I think this show is disgusting and sick. Never watch it! They have wrong messages coming from it. It makes me want to throw up.
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AGE
the women are happy and be willing to all be married to cody, there is no forced or child marriage, no problem with this
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Kid, 11 years old
March 23, 2011
AGE
Just plain weird
Kody should not be married to 4 different woman. Strange...
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AGE
Making polygamist reality stars brings BAD image for the TLC network
It clearly shows the displaced values of people thinking it is illegal to both GOD and state (illegal in the United States) why on earth TLC shows such inappropriate series? Are they aware that by showing the series, it gives out a BAD IMAGE for the network? Are they giving out a perception to those foreign viewers thinking this is a Travel and Living Channel that the USA is open and quite proud of such taboo? Families and even children watch TLC, but because of such unacceptable series or shows that you are proud of showing the world makes us wonder if the network are really assessing about the aspects of good TV for all.
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Sister Wives
Polygamy is a very sensitive issue. Many are not convince that this kind of living should be acceptable in our society. But also many are practicing this kind of setup and they are happy. Polygamy is legal in some part of US, and they are a number of families who indulge in it. A reality show in TLC featured a family with one husband, four wives and sixteen children. Right now the family which is headed by Kody Brown is trying to challenge the Utah court about the state not legalizing polygamy and bigamy. Laws in the state of Utah that make polygamy illegal are being challenged in court by the family showcased in the “Sister Wives” television reality show. The lawsuit asks for an injunction against any prosecution for polygamy, challenging that it violates their constitutional freedom. I read this here: Polygamist family from Sister Wives show taking Utah to court.
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | TLC |
| Cast: | Christine Brown, Janelle Brown, Kody Brown, Meri Brown, Robyn Brown |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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