Unconventional Guidelines Set by Kody Brown for His Sister Wives

Kody Brown operates with an iron fist. He has imposed rigorous regulations on his “Sister Wives,” expecting them to comply with his desires regardless of their feelings. This rigid approach led to three of the four wives leaving him, transforming his polygamous family into a solitary one.

After Christine Brown announced the end of their 25-year marriage in November 2021, Kody expressed that he has evolved since their split. Christine indicated that the decision was overdue and felt liberated. In December 2022, Janelle confirmed her separation during a special episode of “Sister Wives: One On One.” Lastly, Meri expressed her intent to move forward positively into 2023, following their earlier divorce in 2014. Robyn Brown remains the only wife still with Kody amidst growing concerns about Kody’s control and the reasons behind each wife’s departure.

Kody wanted to assert his authority, insisting that his wives should worship and comply with him. Critics suggest he projects a God complex, believing that his rules reflect divine will. After Christine’s departure, he enforced strict mandates to ensure the remaining wives adhered to his authoritarian standards. Kody stated, “I’m going to be the head of my household again,” emphasizing his need for respect. Janelle, however, disagreed, feeling she hadn’t agreed to a dictatorship. Ultimately, this ideological clash led Janelle to part ways with Kody soon after.

Kody enforced a stringent policy against body piercings, particularly ear piercings, based on beliefs learned in childhood. He insisted that Janelle and Christine remove their earrings upon meeting him. This rigid rule extended to his daughters as well. However, he contradicted himself by allowing Robyn to wear earrings and even took his stepdaughter, Aurora, to get her ears pierced. This inconsistency stirred dissatisfaction among his other wives who felt unfairly treated.

“Now, I’m going with Aurora for a sort of daddy-daughter experience,” he stated, showcasing his blatant disrespect for his own rules.

In the early days of “Sister Wives,” the women followed a set of conservative fashion guidelines, wearing long, loose dresses with high necklines and three-quarter or full sleeves. However, over the seasons, they began to loosen these restrictions, incorporating pants, shorter sleeves, lower necklines, and higher hemlines into their wardrobes.

Nonetheless, maintaining modesty was still important for the “Sister Wives” and their children. In their book, “Becoming Sister Wives,” Christine expressed concern about her older daughters, Aspyn and Mykelti, who preferred wearing shirts with lower necklines, which she felt crossed the line of modesty established by their family.

As the women began rediscovering their freedom, they increasingly pushed against the established dress code. In August 2021, Janelle shared a photo on Instagram in a snug T-shirt and shorts. The following month, Meri posted a picture enjoying a vacation in Mexico wearing shorts and a sleeveless top, and Christine joined in with a casual look in black shorts and a short-sleeve top.

Another significant rule set by Kody Brown was the concept of “sacred loneliness.” In a September 2023 episode of the show, Kody explained it was a prerequisite for Janelle and Christine when they joined the family. This rule suggested they should accept their moments away from him without complaint. However, both women disagreed with Kody’s interpretation, feeling it was merely a way for him to avoid being present, wrapped in religious justification.

Kody asserted that he was stretched too thin to meet the needs of four women. “Really, now you figured that out?” teased Meri. She and Christine challenged Kody’s notion of “sacred loneliness,” questioning how they were expected to honor feelings of isolation. Kody, feeling beleaguered, blamed the introduction of the rule on Christine and Janelle’s desire for him to marry them, asserting that it was their responsibility for his unhappiness.

A particularly stringent guideline imposed by Kody was the requirement that his “Sister Wives” must willingly share him without complaint. This expectation was challenging to uphold given the natural feelings of jealousy that can arise in a plural marriage, especially when it involves Kody.

Despite these challenges, Kody stressed that the women had to reconcile their feelings regarding his relationships with others. In their book, “Becoming Sister Wives,” he acknowledged the difficulty of accepting this reality but emphasized the importance of managing jealousy for their own well-being, admitting that no single wife could meet all his needs. Robyn Brown noted that despite the potential frustrations, there are advantages to sharing Kody, such as having another woman to relate to when expressing frustrations or celebrating successes.