Menu
MapConnectionsTopicsBulgariaThe Night (K-TRIO)Marie Skłodowska-CurieFor studentsFor teachersMethodologySurprise me
H2020Individual fellowship2021–2024

WOMENEXREL · Women Leaving Religion in the UK and the Netherlands

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2021-11-01 → 2024-03-31
EU contribution
€224,934
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Women Leaving Religion in the UK and the Netherlands

Women are often thought to be more religious then men. At the same time, a number of women disaffiliate from their religious tradition and/or community. This research project explored the lived realities of women from Jewish, Christian and Islamic religious backgrounds in the UK and the Netherlands, who self-identify as having left religion. It revealed that different former faiths, the community one belongs/belonged to, and embodied experiences all inform women’s experiences of leaving religion. Using an innovative life story approach, the project contributed insights to the study of non-religion and leaving religion, the interdisciplinary study of religion and gender, and the empirical comparative study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Bringing women of different religious backgrounds (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) together in the same research has led to new and original insights into the dynamics of current Western European secularising and diversifying societies. The research investigated: a) how and why women lost faith and/or left their Jewish, Christian or Islamic community; b) how constructions and lived realities of gender, social class, sexuality and race/ethnicity shape women’s religious exit; c) how women’s post-exit relations with family and community are negotiated. This project combines a life story approach with participant observation at events organised by relevant civil society organisations and networks, as well as an exploration of narratives of religious exit in media, arts and culture. The results have been used to theoretically rethink the body and embodiment, how (leaving) religion intersects with gender, sexuality and race, and the concept of liminality as transformation in religious exit.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Women are often thought to be more religious then men. At the same time, a number of women disaffiliate from their religious tradition and/or community. This research explores the lived realities of women from Jewish, Christian and Islamic religious backgrounds in the UK and the Netherlands, who self-identify as having left religion. It is expected that different former faiths, the community one belongs/belonged to, and aspects such as age, education and sexuality all inform women’s experiences of leaving religion. This project will contextualise these women’s trajectories in relation to the different religious and secular dynamics and circumstantial differences of the UK and the Netherlands. Using a new and innovative life history approach , the project contributes to the study of non-religion and leaving religion, the interdisciplinary study of religion and gender, and the empirical comparative study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Bringing women of different religious backgrounds (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) together in the same research will lead to new and original insights into the dynamics of current Western European secularising and diversifying societies. This research will investigate: a) how and why women leave their Jewish, Christian or Islamic faith and/or community; b) how aspects such as gender, generation, education, sexuality and race/ethnicity contribute to women’s experience of leaving religion; c) and their post-exit relations with family and community. This project combines a life history approach with participant observation at events organised by and for formerly religiously observant individuals, as well as interviews with organisers, activists and therapists dealing with formerly observant women. The results will be used to theoretically rethink the connections between (non-)religion, leaving religion, gender and race/ethnicity.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union