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The Duggars have long been members of the controversial Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a fundamentalist organization and homeschooling program. Followers adhere to strict guidelines for a righteous life, which explain the Duggar women’s conservative clothes, the family’s shunning of secular media, and their practice of “courtship” rather than dating to find a spouse.
The Duggars’ church has been compared to a cult
A 2016 exposé of the organization in Chicago Magazine revealed that the IBLP and its founder, Bill Gothard, have been sued for sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual conduct (Gothard has since left the IBLP). A former IBLP member who spoke to the New York Post claims that sexual abuse is common in the IBLP, enabled by the organization’s teachings on obedience to men and its blame-the-victim approach.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
