30th Annual Student Research Conference
Role Conflict and Dress in Kenyan Amish Converts
Melissa S. Janney
Dr. Cory Anderson, Faculty Mentor
Issues of dress exemplify role conflict faced by Amish converts in Kenya. Enninger (1987) illustrates in his study of Delaware Amish that non-verbal dress cues are understood within a close community, signaling group roles and solidarity; however, when Kenyan converts are not provided a total community, converts face the challenge of satisfying demands of their community roles while fulfilling church roles. 32 interviews of converts were thematically coded to assess the feelings of these competing tensions between their non-Amish community roles and new roles in the church. Data was interpreted through the theory of role conflict in order to understand the tensions faced by converts. A preliminary finding is that women face stronger conflict as they attempt to fulfill Kenyan cultural expectations while satisfying the church’s desire for modesty.
Keywords: Amish, Role conflict, Dress, Gender roles, Kenya, Convert
Topic(s):Sociology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 311-1
Location: VH 1236
Time: 1:00