ERIC Number: EJ1001871
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1935-3308
EISSN: N/A
Gender Role Perceptions of Mormon Women from Divorced Families: An Adult-Developmental Analysis
Lafkas, Sara McPhee
Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research, v7 n2 p80-97 Win 2012
More American families now have shifting family forms and gender role practices, but some religious faiths still subscribe to traditional family and gender roles. Following these ideals in modern society can challenge adherents. This qualitative study examined one such faith, considering the perceptions of Mormon (i.e., Latter-day Saint) women with divorced parents regarding gender role doctrines. Traditional gender roles are often upended with divorce, creating situations inconsistent with Mormon doctrinal ideals. The study also considered how women at differing adult development junctures view these matters, looking at how women who are socialized, or embedded in values of cultural surrounds, differ from those who have more self-authoring orientations. Twenty-five participants completed two semi-structured interviews. The first interview assessed participants' adult development perspectives and the second explored perceptions of gender role doctrines and parental divorce. Emergent themes included expressions of traditional gender role support along with complex feelings, which varied according to adult development perspectives. Participants with more socialized orientations indicated strong loyalty to cultural surrounds, while more self-authoring women often expressed loyalty concurrently with feelings of tension and disagreement regarding traditional doctrinal interpretations. Implications of the study and future research directions are discussed. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Females, Adult Development, Divorce, Semi Structured Interviews, Religious Cultural Groups, Sex Role, Qualitative Research, Religious Factors, Socialization, Parents, Cultural Influences
Cedarville University. 251 North Main Street, Cedarville, OH 45314. Tel: 937-766-3242; Fax: 937-766-7971; e-mail: jeqr@comcast.net; Web site: http://www.cedarville.edu/jeqr
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A