A critical analysis of the power issues for women in Protestant fundamentalism, using a feminist Foucauldian framework and Schoenherr's (1987) model of religious power. Protestant fundamentalism is a patriarchal, hierarchical system which can be oppressive, controlling women and their sexuality through the following strategies: (1) specific God-concepts and religious ideology; (2) tight, rigid group boundaries; (3) rules of the dominant discourse, and (4) technologies of discipline; all of which are also internalized by women, resulting in a highly effective means of control. Implications for social work practice include ethical issues and suggestions for intervention approaches, such as support groups, social networks, crisis counselling, use of the Internet and prevention, as well as possibilities for transforming a client's oppressive religious experience to one that is emancipatory. Suggestions for social work education and research are included.

This study adds significantly to the literature on Christian fundamentalism, and specifically to understandings of how women are positioned within these faiths. It also provides an unusual glimpse into the inner world of Jehovah's Witnesses, and more specifically into the lived experiences of female adherents, a perspective which has been lacking in the small number of studies conducted into the faith. / By taking a sociological approach to the research, the Witnesses can be seen to occupy a unique position within Christian fundamentalism, an understanding which is crucial given their strong emphasis on the control of women. It is this emphasis on controlling women through the social structures of the faith that makes both joining and leaving the Witnesses such fraught processes, as is illuminated by the narratives of the female research participants. / Thesis (PhDEducation)--University of South Australia, 2006.

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The division of labor in households is an important topic in marital relationships. Families are not static; they are in a constant state of change. Employment, individual family members’ schedules, and religious beliefs can impact how couples divide household tasks. This particular study draws on in-depth interviews of four married couples from American Baptist churches to explore how couples within this type of church divide household tasks. The interviews focused on the management of second- and third-shift household tasks, as well as childcare. The purpose of obtaining this information was to see if the way American Baptist couples handle second-, third-shift duties, and childcare is more consistent with general population couples or more consistent with Evangelical/Conservative couples. Husbands and wives were interviewed separately to obtain individual thoughts and opinions. The interviews revealed that when it comes to second-shift tasks and child care, American Baptist couples are more in line with general population couples. As far as third-shift duties, Evangelical, general population, and American Baptist couples are all currently handling in very similar ways with the female performing the majority of third-shift tasks.