A search for 'sacred bodies': re-visioning and re-valuing women's bodies

Stuart, Penelope J. (2004) A search for 'sacred bodies': re-visioning and re-valuing women's bodies. MTh(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This study details a quest. It is a quest to uncover what bodies signify in contemporary society, and especially what women's bodies signify in a world where they are vulnerable to gender-specific violence. It is a quest that seeks to find what informs the relationship of one body to another and the interaction between them. It is a quest to discover if it is possible, or helpful, in this situation for women's bodies to be re-visioned as 'sacred'. In this study, seeking to discover these things leads to engagement with some leading theorists on the 'body'. It involves addressing the issues that surround speaking of 'women' or 'women's experience' in a postmodern world. Ultimately, it leads to engagement with the lived experience of a group of women who are life-long church members. In this research, creative methods, group work, and life-history interviews allow participants to share their own experiences of embodiment, and to reflect on them and the interface between their everyday lives and their worship experience.

• Item Type: Thesis (MTh(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Women, bodies, contemporary society.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity; H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Walton, Dr. Heather
• Date of Award: 2004
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2004-9055
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 22 Aug 2018 14:00
• Last Modified: 08 Jun 2021 13:34
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/9055