published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The term, spirituality, as used in this study, refers to that part of our lives that has the deepest meaning, that which nurtures each of us and moves us toward wholeness. It is the basis for which we live out our lives, following our own truths with honesty and commitment. Hopefully, in the process of aging we mature spiritually, using experiences collected and processed over a lifetime and learning from them what is most important in leading a fulfilling life. For this study, a group of 10 women aged 60-87 years was examined, using in-depth interviews to determine those aspects of their lives that contributed to their spiritual growth and to see how they found meaning as they matured over their lifetimes. Furthermore, each woman was asked to discuss what gives her life the most meaning and purpose today. The women were selected for their apparent spiritual maturity, as observed by those who know them. The results of the study are organized around themes as they relate to different periods of the life span, starting with childhood and ending in elderhood. Early memories of the women were centered around family and friends, then expanded to include school, career, and in most cases marriage and children. Some have grandchildren. The family of origin was a critical beginning for each woman. Most recalled a happy and loving childhood, and those that did not, seem to have worked through those parts of their childhood relationships and experiences that have troubled them. Over their life spans, the women faced turning points or crises that caused them to grow in new ways, not only to survive, but to find new strength, courage, and meaning. As the women became older adults, their losses became more numerous. They have developed ways to grow spiritually despite these multiple losses and diminishments that continue into the present. Role models have played a meaningful part in each woman's life. Throughout childhood, adulthood, and old age, the women have looked to others who taught them various social and coping skills which contributed to the fullness in their lives. They developed such traits as loving others, caring for those in need, and helping friends and family. The role models fostered independence and development of strengths and guided the women to become who they are today. These women in turn serve as role models for others. The acceptance of death as a part of life lends a peacefulness in old age for the women. Their families and friends continue to play a key role in their everyday lives, along with faith and religious practices, God or a Supreme Being, prayer, meditation, reading, writing, learning new things, helping and listening to others, and service to community. Giving and receiving love is basic in their lives. The women also feel that love and helping others are essential components for a healthy humanity. The women are grateful for life's many gifts. Although old age brings hardships, losses, and diminishments, they find that life has been generous to them, and they continue to have hope for the future. Their spiritual strength continues to grow and expand, accompanied by a new sense of freedom that was not present in their younger years. Contrary to messages received from society, these women have found that there are benefits in growing old. / Graduation date: 1993

This study is an exploration of the relationship between spirituality and the career-transition process in middle-aged women's lives. The sample of this study consisted of 20 women who were in or went through a career-transition process. The research data were collected through in-depth interviews. Grounded theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) was used to analyse the data and to generate frameworks for the interaction between the career-transition process and spirituality. The results indicated three different frameworks to explain the interaction between the two research variables for three different patterns of career-transition process. These frameworks included five major themes related to spirituality and the career-transition process: (a) reflection, (b) belief in a transcendent dimension of reality, (c) principles and morals to live by, (d) reciprocity, and (e) life outside work.

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Utilizing subcultural identity, scripting, and reference group theories, this study analyzes 21 young adult, evangelical Christian women’s attitudes toward sexuality, and how they utilize messages regarding sexuality from their pastors and parents. Although the women in this study perceive that messages from their pastors and parents regarding sex are unclear and at times inconsistent, their attitudes still particularly fit into the well-known strict sexual “norms” for evangelical Christians. However, the women’s understanding of sexuality did not always include messages from a pastor or parent. Though messages from the participants’ pastors and parents are not irrelevant to the women in this study, the ambiguous nature of their messages offers the participants a unique opportunity to construct their own definitions of sex. Most participants consider procreation to be an important purpose of sex, but they also believe enjoyment and intimacy are important purposes. Additionally, while most of the women in this study consider oral sex and anal sex to count as a loss of virginity, participants also noted many gray areas when considering virginity loss and sexual purity. / Department of Sociology

Thesis (MPhil (Ancient Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / This thesis explores the importance of the function of religion in the life of the average, non-royal woman in Ancient Egyptian society. As Ancient Egyptian society and the historical documentation thereof were dominated by the male perspective, the extent of religious participation by women was, until recently, underestimated. Recent research has shown that women had taken part in, and in some cases even dominated, certain spheres of Ancient Egyptian religion. This included religious participation in public, as well as the practice of certain religious rituals in the home. The religious lives of ordinary women of non-royal families were studied by looking at their involvement in the public aspects of Egyptian religion, such as temples, tombs and festivals, as well as at the influence of religion on their identities as women and mothers. The research method followed was that of an iconographical analysis of original sources, which were classified and examined in order to establish their religious links to women of the middle and lower classes. A catalogue of sources is given, including sources depicting women participating in public rituals and objects used in a more domestic sphere. The first included tomb paintings and reliefs from tombs and temples, as well as objects given as public offerings to various deities. The second group included objects and visual depictions relating to fertility, birth and death. This thesis attempts better to understand and illuminate to what an extent the ordinary women of Ancient Egypt were involved in religious participation in their daily lives, as well as to illustrate the dimensions of this participation.

This ethnographic case study explored the vocation discernment process for Latina women who have entered a religious order. The researcher spent three months participating in and observing the daily lives of religious sisters and conducted interviews. The eight religious sisters interviewed for the study were predominately of Mexican and Central America descent. Similar to Lester’s (2005) findings, sisters describe persistent feelings of inquietud before entering the religious life, and sought fulfillment through religious means. Participants often feel joy and admiration when they met a religious sister for the first time. Participants recount a religious or sensory experience which provided clarity to her decision. The participants indicate a sense of urgency to enter the religious life as soon as possible. The results are compared with other studies on religious life and vocation discernment through a sociological and psychosocial perspective. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to explore the dynamics between spiritual fitness and women in recovery from substance-problems. The phenomenological method of enquiry, and within this context, the qualitative approach, was followed. Interviews with five women, four of whom received treatment at Stepping Stones Addiction Centre, constituted the empirical data on which this research was based. These interviews revealed remarkable experiences in the lives of these women. The findings of the research indicate that women in recovery with substanceproblems benefit tremendously from interaction with the dimension of spirituality. Spirituality was understood in terms of the experience of intervention or support by a power greater than themselves – an experience which gave meaning to the lives of these women, which is manifested in their way of being and way of acting. This includes a new sense of responsibility and self-respect which empower them to become co-creators of their lives, and to contribute compassionately to the well-being of others. The continuous and disciplined application of “spiritual tools”, practices and guidelines constitute a growing dynamics of spiritual fitness which forms part of a holistic approach to treatment and recovery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die dinamiek tussen spirituele fiksheid en vroue met substansie-probleme in die herstelproses, te verken. Die fenomenologiese metode van ondersoek, en binne hierdie konteks die kwalitatiewe benadering, is gebruik. Onderhoude met vyf vroue, van wie vier behandeling ontvang het by Stepping Stones Addiction Centre, het die empiriese data waarop hierdie navorsing gebaseer is, gekonstitueer. Hierdie onderhoude het merkwaardige ondervindings in die lewens van die vroue blootgelê. Die bevindings van die navorsing toon dat vroue met substansie- probleme in die herstelproses geweldig by die interaksie met die spirituele dimensie gebaat het. Spiritualiteit is verstaan in terme van die belewenis van intervensie of ondersteuning deur ‘n mag groter as hulself – ‘n ervaring wat betekenis gegee het aan die lewens van hierdie vroue, wat gemanifesteer het in hul wyse van bestaan en wyse van handel. Dit sluit ‘n nuwe begrip van verantwoordelikheid en selfrespek in, wat hul bemagtig om mede-skeppers van hul lewens te word, en op ‘n deernisvolle en empatiese wyse tot die welsyn van ander by te dra. Die voortgaande en gedissiplineerde toepassing van spirituele toerusting, gebruike en riglyne lei tot ‘n toenemende dinamiek van spirituele fiksheid wat deel vorm van ‘n holistiese benadering tot behandeling en die herstelproses.

This study is a critical exploration and analysis of the experiences of 'being church‘ for women married to pastors in the Baptist Convention of Malawi (BACOMA). The study focused on the following research question: 'What does being church mean for women who are married to pastors in the BACOMA, whose distinctive mark is freedom of choice in matters of faith and ministry according to the Baptist-held principle of the priesthood of all believers? It is a qualitative empirical study of the life experiences of pastors‘ wives which used feminist narrative methods of inquiry. In order to get a full picture of the role perceptions and experiences of pastors‘ wives, the study used in depth interviews, group discussions and participant observation. A purposely selected group of twenty-nine pastors‘ wives from BACOMA-affiliated Lilongwe Baptist Association of Malawi were individually interviewed by the author. In addition, two group discussions with members of the Lilongwe Baptist Association Pastors‘ Fraternal group (LBAPF) were conducted and fifty church members that included women, men, and young people were also interviewed in order to determine the congregational perceptions of a pastor‘s wife. The purpose of my study was to determine the ideo-theological and socio-cultural factors that contribute to the construction of the identity of a pastor‘s wife in the BACOMA. By presenting a synthesis of the various perspectives on the experiences of pastors‘ wives, this study has demonstrated that a plurality of perspectives contribute to the construction of the identity of a pastors‘ wife. This causes her to be identified as a "dialogical self"¹ because of the many positions that contribute to the self understanding of her identity. These perspectives, which are embedded in patriarchal ideologies, include: doctrinal or biblical, ecclesiastical, congregational, cultural, and the "Self". I have also shown that the areas of conflict and tension between the Self and the "others" can be clues towards transformation. This is in addition to the alternatives suggested by feminist theologians in the study. Baptist ecclesiology in Malawi is challenged to take cognisance of these factors in order to build an inclusive ecclesiology that affirms the humanity of women in general and pastors‘ wives in particular. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This thesis concerns African women’s experience of comprehensive vulnerability, and a proposal to develop an African Women’s’ Public Theology to enable the church in Africa to adequately respond to that vulnerability. The research involved a case study of 126 women in the Kenyan district of Meru South undertaken through interviews, focus groups and participant observation, and revealed that women experience vulnerability in eight key areas, namely, Domestic violence, Inheritance, HIV and AIDS, Education, Health, Female Genital Mutilation, Polygamy and a lack of control and access to property. The thesis argues that this constitutes a comprehensive experience of vulnerability that has five fundamental causes, namely, Patriarchal traditions and customs; Poverty; Policies and law; Religion and the church; and Internalisation. The thesis then examines an appropriate response from Christians and the Church to this experience of comprehensive vulnerability. It notes that many of these concerns are voiced by African Women’s’ Theology, but that in order to adequately deal with the experiences and causes of women’s vulnerability identified in the research there is a need to engage the field of public policy, constitution and law making to really make a difference. An engagement with the male theologians, Duncan Forrester, Jesse Mugambi and Charles Villa-Vicencio provides the impetus to develop a public theology, whilst at the same time the thesis offers a gender sensitive critique of these attempts. Any public theology needs a social theory in order to engage the public sphere, and this thesis examines the work of the feminist philosopher and jurist, Martha Nussbaum in promoting the Human Capabilities Approach. We examine her formal proposal of ten fundamental human capabilities that should be supported by states and governments. Her work is affirmed for three important reasons, namely, it deals with the reality of women on the ground as revealed through the field research, it provides a public way of dealing with this vulnerability that is not based on one faith tradition, and yet thirdly, it is congruent with a Biblical faith that promotes Human Dignity, Freedom and Justice. In drawing the research to a close the thesis proposes an African Women’s Public Theology with the following seven characteristics. African Women’s Public Theology (i) is a member of the family of African Women’s Theologies, (ii) is grounded in the reality of the lives of African women, characterized by comprehensive vulnerability; (iii) claims the right for women to do theology in the public arena; (iv) works self-consciously in an inter- disciplinary manner; (v) challenges the church to be more active in seeking social justice, with an emphasis on gender justice; (vi) focuses on women’s capabilities – what they are actually able to be and to do; and (vii) challenges the hitherto male-dominated public theologies to take seriously the concerns, wisdom and passion of women seeking gender justice in Africa. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.