Forbidden Intimacies: Polygamies at the Limits of Western Tolerance

The regulation of polygamy reveals the limits of Western tolerance, as it allows the flourishing of polygamies on the ground. Melanie Heath's book Forbidden Intimacies explores the regulation of polygamy in the United States, Canada, France, and Mayotte, revealing the ways in which intimacies framed as other and offensive define the limits of Western tolerance. The case studies illustrate a continuum of justice, with some groups organizing to fight against the prohibition of their families' existence and African migrants facing racialized discrimination. Heath uses the term labyrinthine love to conceptualize the complex ways individuals negotiate different kinds of relationships, challenging heteronormative, Western ideals of love.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Polygamy has emerged as a contentious issue in the past three decades, as Western governments grapple with regulating cultural and religious practices that challenge fundamental principles of family and justice. In her book, Forbidden Intimacies, Melanie Heath delves into the regulation of polygamy in the United States, Canada, France, and Mayotte. Through a comprehensive analysis of ethnographic and archival sources, Heath uncovers the ways in which intimacies deemed as other and offensive shape the boundaries of Western tolerance.

Surprisingly, these regulatory efforts paradoxically enable the flourishing of polygamous relationships on the ground. The case studies presented in the book illustrate a spectrum of justice, where certain groups, such as white fundamentalist Mormons in the United States, organize to resist the prohibition of their family existence. On the other hand, African migrants in France face racialized discrimination and rigid migration policies in addition to the challenges of polygamy. The intricate web of legal and social contexts, influenced by factors such as gender, race, sexuality, and class, shapes the daily experiences of these relationships.

Heath employs the term "labyrinthine love" to capture the complex ways individuals navigate various types of relationships, ranging from romantic to coercive. What unites these families is the secrecy they must maintain, as government intervention erodes their ability to secure housing, welfare, work, and protection from abuse. Heath's book exposes the diverse range of intimacies and the power they possess to challenge heteronormative, Western ideals of love.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503634251