No telephones or vibrators please

July 2, 2004 3:31 PM

Sexual abuse amongst the Amishhas traditionally been handled by the Amish. However, some victims are breaking with their communities and exposing their cloistered world to legal authorities and losing their entire family in the process. (Nerve.com link, relatively SFW)
posted by nathan_teske (10 comments total)

I've known several Amish and Hutterites in the past and, without exception, they are good, decent human beings. However the nature of their closed, xenophobic lifestyle can lead to instances of severe sexual abuse and molestation. It takes a lot for any survivor of sexual abuse to come forward, and moreso with cults and colonies as coming forward usually means losing your entire support structure.
posted by nathan_teske at 3:37 PM on July 2, 2004

enter the dark kingdom of amish bondage...
posted by quonsar at 3:51 PM on July 2, 2004

It's a pretty sad story, but I don't think the Amish are alone in failing to report abuse. There was a religious group a wee bit larger that recently had an issue with this, right?

Also, it's probably awful to say it, but the mug shots are hilarious.
posted by malphigian at 4:01 PM on July 2, 2004

The Amisjh bondage site is of course just a bondage thing posing as Amish--alas, the sub guy looks as though he has never done anyh wolrk in his life, has carefully avlided the sun, can't get his dick hard even whendoing that which is to his liking. But it is nice to know that a senior editor (see end of article on the abuse, via Nerve) for American Prospect has concerns for writing for Nerve and not just focusing upon a lefty view of what is wrong with the rest of the non-Amish America. But no animals and screwing donkeyhs and sheep? Gosh, all that good stuff available and they have to fool around with kin.
posted by Postroad at 5:16 PM on July 2, 2004

I was also surprised to see the young ones on rumspringa dealing crank and other hard drugs
in the documentary Devil's Playground. Has anyone else seen it?

Also, I think there was a girl named Nina who did the first Amish-style porn
... could be wrong, not going to search at work.
posted by milovoo at 5:49 PM on July 2, 2004

malphigian: a friend of mine without a mefi login was just telling me on the phone about how hilarious the mugshots were and that I had to click the link just for that.

So insensitive or not, you're not alone, for what it's worth.

Plus they're Amish, its not like they're going to read your response here.
posted by Ynoxas at 9:29 PM on July 2, 2004

Plus they're Amish, its not like they're going to read your response here.

You just made my day.
posted by majcher at 1:08 AM on July 3, 2004

When the oil runs out, the Amish will have their laughs, and maybe 'Amish Bondage' will take on a whole new meaning.

Interesting that the article addresses sexuality amongst the Amish, without mentioning a word about their view on gay sexuality. This would be interesting in a variety of ways.

I've been fascinated by these folks for years, but all the more so since learning my ancestors were Mennonite, which is sorta kinda like Amish-lite.
posted by Goofyy at 4:45 AM on July 3, 2004

What kind of mennonite were your ancestors, Goofyy?

My dad was conservative amish mennonite (dairy farmer), but he left the community when he was 17 or so. all the more interesting, because my mom is Chinese. Makes for an interesting background --- i have one of those really common Amish last names too (Stoltzfus)
posted by jare2003 at 5:49 AM on July 4, 2004

My last name is an Amish/Mennonite last name; I have a background similar to jare2003, except that my mom is Mexican. :)

When I read about the Amish (which people I think use too interchangibly with the term Mennonite) of the Midwest, I find them to be distinctly different from the Amish of Lancaster Co., Pa. The PA Amish, also known as "Pennsylvania Dutch" have held most close ties to their Swiss-Germanic heritage. From what I've read, it seems their community is more closely bonded, more conservative, more ties to the language, etc.
posted by jennak at 12:49 AM on July 5, 2004