This paper examines leading Canadian decisions in the areas of obscenity and indecency law and freedom of religion to demonstrate that the strangeness of a practice will be a major factor in determining the harm associated with it. Since “strangeness” in sexual deviance cases turn on the perceived objectification and subjugation of women and minority religion cases turn on communal behaviours, these strands intersect in the debate over polygamy. The impact that these skewed perceptions will have on findings of harm in the polygamy context is examined, as are how the benefits of the legislation may be overstated. Finally, the effects of “othering” are addressed for the practice of polyamory, a relationship structure that lacks harm but may nevertheless be equally prohibited.

This paper examines leading Canadian decisions in the areas of obscenity and indecency law and freedom of religion to demonstrate that the strangeness of a practice will be a major factor in determining the harm associated with it. Since “strangeness” in sexual deviance cases turn on the perceived objectification and subjugation of women and minority religion cases turn on communal behaviours, these strands intersect in the debate over polygamy. The impact that these skewed perceptions will have on findings of harm in the polygamy context is examined, as are how the benefits of the legislation may be overstated. Finally, the effects of “othering” are addressed for the practice of polyamory, a relationship structure that lacks harm but may nevertheless be equally prohibited.

Thesis (PhD(O.T.))--Universiteit van Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-230).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 335-347).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1939. / Typescript. Includes abstract and vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: leaves [435]-439.

Thesis (M.A.) Brigham Young University. Department of History. / Bibliography: leaves 175-190.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1964. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

La polygamie pose à la fois et tacitement, par son existence et ses actions symboliques, et explicitement, par le discours et les théories qu’elle produits ou auxquelles elle donne lieu, à un certain nombre de questions qui sont parmi les plus importantes de mon étude des sciences sociales, et, pour certaines, tout à fait nouvelles. Cette institution de révolte contre une forme particulière de violence symbolique, outre qu’elle fait exister des objets d’analyse nouveaux , met en question très profondément l’ordre symbolique en vigueur et pose de manière tout à fait radicale la question des fondements de cet ordre et des conditions d’une mobilisation réussie en vue de le subvenir, comme le conçoit Pierre Bourdieu. La forme particulière de domination symbolique dont sont victimes les femmes en couples polygames chez les Punu, frappées d’un stigmate qui, à la différence de la couleur de la peau ou de leur féminité, peut être cachée ou (affichée), s’impose à travers des actes collectifs de catégorisation qui font exister des différences significatives , négativement marquées, et par là, des groupes, des catégories sociales stigmatisées. Comme dans certaines espèces de racisme, elle prend en ce cas la forme d’un déni d’existence publique, visible. L’oppression comme « invisibilisation » se traduit par un refus de l’existence légitime, publique, c’est-à-dire connue et reconnue, notamment par le droit, et par une stigmatisation qui n’apparait jamais aussi clairement que lorsque le mouvement revendique la visibilité. Je le rappelle alors explicitement à la « discrétion » ou à la dissimulation qu’elle est ordinairement obligé de s’imposer. / Polygamy, both tacitly because of its existence and its symbolical action, and explicitly, through the speeches and the views it expresses or it gives rise to, raises a certain number of queries which are among the most important ones of my social sciences survey and, as far as some of them are concerned, completely new. This institution of revolt against a particular form of symbolic violence, besides the fact that it gives rise to new analysis subjects, thoroughly questions the current symbolic order and completely raises the query of the foundations of this order and of conditions of a successful mobilization in order to support it. The particular form of symbolic domination whose victims are the women in polygamous couples, struck by a mark which, unlike the colour of the skin or femininity, can be hidden or displayed , is obvious through group actions of categorization which give rise to significant differences, negatively marked , and consequently to marked groups and social categories. Like in some kinds of racism, it takes the form of a denial of public existence, which is visible.

M.A.