"Harm or right" compares polygamy’s criminalization in Canada, the United States, France, and Mayotte to understand how nation-states wrestle with competing laws and values of women’s right to equality, the right to freedom of religion and culture, and the right to sexual and familial intimacy. It examines how governments negotiate cultural values and law within and across national borders to regulate sexual and familial intimacy, to define religious, cultural, and national identity, and to promote gender equality.
Impact
The expected outcomes of this project include the enhancement of theories and pedagogies of humans rights and values, and the development of social policy and enrichment of public discourse.
Student Experience
This project involves graduate and undergraduate students who have been trained in data gathering and analysis. Students concentrate on the geographic regions of North America, France, and Mayotte. Students have the opportunity to co-author with the principal investigator for work that is presented at conferences and for publication.