Lives of Amish Women

This book explores the changing roles of Amish women over time, challenging stereotypes and revealing the diversity of their experiences. It examines how social, economic, and technological changes have affected their domestic labor and motherhood responsibilities, leading to varied experiences. Based on extensive fieldwork and correspondence with Amish women, the book considers the relationship between Amish churches and women's roles and the meaning of Gelassenheit in different communities. It sheds light on the key role Amish women play in maintaining their church communities and challenges misconceptions about them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2020
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

Amish women's lives are shaped by a combination of continuity and change, tradition and dynamism. On the one hand, a commitment to living Old Order lives, purposefully out of step with the cultural mainstream, has provided Amish women with a sense of constancy. Even in relatively progressive Amish communities, women continue to engage in activities common to their counterparts in earlier times, such as gardening, homemaking, and childrearing. On the other hand, profound social, economic, and technological changes throughout the twenty-first century have impacted Amish women's lives in different ways, resulting in increasingly varied experiences.

In her book, The Lives of Amish Women, Karen M. Johnson-Weiner delves into the changing roles of Amish women as Amish churches have evolved. Through her extensive fieldwork and correspondence with Amish women, Johnson-Weiner examines the relationship between evolving patterns of social and economic interaction with mainstream society and women's family, community, and church roles. She asks thought-provoking questions such as: What does it mean for an Amish woman to be humble when she owns a business that serves people internationally? Is a childless Amish woman or a single Amish woman still considered a Keeper at Home in the same way as a woman raising a family? What is the significance of Gelassenheit in the lives of Amish women?

Johnson-Weiner's book offers a rich and nuanced exploration of Amish women's lives, challenging popular stereotypes and shedding light on the complex and diverse experiences of these women. It provides valuable insights into the interplay between tradition, modernity, and gender roles within Amish communities and highlights the importance of understanding the evolving nature of these roles in shaping the lives of Amish women.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421438702