New Religions and the Mediation of Non-Monogamy: Polyamory, Polygamy, and Reality Television

A religious studies scholar, Michelle Mueller ’05 examines the relationship between alternative American religions and the media representation of non-monogamies on reality TV shows like Sister Wives, Seeking Sister Wife, and Polyamory: Married & Dating. Through interviews and fieldwork, she tracks community members’ responses to the new media about them, their engagement with television and other media, and the likeness of representations to actual populations. New Religions and the Mediation of Non-Monogamy highlights differences in socioeconomic privileges that shape Mormon polygamists’ lives and LGBTQ polyamorists’ lives. (Routledge, 2021)