Women’s Experiences of Spirituality within Activism: Stories of Self-Awareness and Connection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v4i2.664Keywords:
activism, women, spirituality, self -awareness, connectionAbstract
This investigation, a secondary data analysis of qualitative exploratory interviews, examined ten women’s accounts of their experiences with social activism to determine the ways in which spirituality is related to their social activism. Definitions of spirituality proposed by feminist scholars provided the framework for the data analysis in this study. Women’s commentaries supported constructs associated with spirituality that have been identified in feminist literature, where spirituality is defined as a dynamic, continuous process of personal development and self-awareness that involves interpersonal connections with activist peers, community and broader humanity. Women also identified novel themes related to connection that described interpersonal aspects of spirituality that were fulfilled as they participated in activism. Ultimately, women in the study appreciated that despite their own agency, their own affinity for activism and their appreciation for the role of their activism in their lives; they cannot practice activism or effectively work towards social justice in isolation.
References
Banerjee, M, & Pyles, L. (2006). Spirituality: A source of resilience for African American women in the era of welfare reform. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 13(2), 45-69.
Bradley, C., Maschi, T., & Gilmore, K. (2007). One woman’s life journey: A case study of spirituality and activism. Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 26(4), 21-46.
Coholic, D. (2003) Incorporating spirituality in feminist social work perspectives. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 18(1), 49-67.
Cole, E. (2008) Coalitions as a model for intersectionality: From practice to theory.” Sex Roles, 15, 443-453.
Comas-Diaz, L. (2008). Spirita: Reclaiming womanist sacredness into feminism.” Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32, 13-21.
Douglas, A, Jimenez, S., Lin, H., & Frisman, L. (2008). Ethnic differences in the effects of spiritual well-being on long-term psychological and behavioural outcomes within a sample of homeless women. Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14(4), 344- 352.
Dugan, K. & Reger, J. (2006). Voice and agency in social movement outcomes. Qualitative Sociology, 29, 467-484.
Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (1994). Handbook of qualitative research. California: Sage Publications.
Gerring, J. (2007). Case study research: Principles and practices. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Gulbrandsen, C, & Walsh, C.A. (2012). It starts with me: Women mediate power within feminist activism. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 27(3), 275-288.
Hagan, W. Arczynski, A., Morrow, S. & Hawxhurst, D. (2011). Lesbian, bisexual, and queer women’s spirituality in feminist multicultural counseling. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 5(3/4), 220-236.
Hill Collins, P. (2000). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness and the politics of empowerment. New York: Routledge.
Krieglstein, M. (2006). Spirituality and Social work. Dialogue and Universalism, 5, 21-28.
Lancaster, B, & Palframan, J. (2009). Coping with major life events: The role of spirituality and self-transformation. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 12(3), 257-276.
Reid, C. (2004). Advancing women’s social justice social justice agendas: A feminist action research framework. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3(3), 2-22.
Reger, J. (2004). Organizational “emotion work” through consciousness raising: An analysis of a feminist organization. Qualitative Sociology, 21(2), 205-220.
Sowards, S. & Renegar (2004). The rhetorical functions of consciousness‐raising in third wave feminism. Communication Studies, 55(4), 535-552.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Tisdell, E. (2000). Spirituality and emancipatory adult education in women adult educators for social change. Adult Education Quarterly, 50(4): 308-335.
Tisdell, E. (2008). Spirituality and adult learning. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 119, 27-36.
Tolliver, D., & Tisdell, E. (2006). Engaging spirituality in the transformative higher education classroom. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 109, 37-47.
Watkins, D. (2008). Spiritual formation of older persons. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, 21(1-2), 7-16.
Watt, S. (2003). Come to the river: Using spirituality to cope, resist, and develop identity. New Directions for Student Services, 104, 29-40.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).