Women of Principle

Women of Principle deals with the struggles of contemporary Mormon polygynous women in their efforts to sustain their families in the prolonged absence of their husbands. Janet Bennion shows how women, through their networks with other women, are able to gain economic security and social autonomy. The book includes narratives from the lives of these women - narratives that clearly reveal why many mainstream Mormon women are viewing polygyny as a viable alternative to the difficulties of single-motherhood, "spinsterhood", poverty, and emotional deprivation.