ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0001-8718-8496

Graduation Semester and Year

2022

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

Social Work

First Advisor

Rachel Schrag Voth

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Christian “purity culture,” a particular variety of shame and guilt-based approach to sexual development, on the millennial generation. An emerging body of personal reminiscences and essays have been written about the experience of growing up as part of this culture and the damage that has resulted from the teachings impressed upon those born from 1981-1996 during their adolescence. The research introduces social work theory and recommendations for working with the population’s mental health treatment into the body of literature. Data was collected through qualitative methods of research in personal interviews conducted with the researcher to discern patterns of common experience within adults who were exposed to evangelical teachings on sex and intimacy. End results will contribute better understanding of the specific challenges facing those recovering from religious abuse, and create cultural fluency for practitioners not familiar with the fundamentalist beliefs that affected this particular cohort.

Keywords

Fundamentalism, Fundamentalist, Evangelical, Christianity, Purity culture, Religious abuse, Spiritual abuse, Mental health treatment

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

31321-2.zip (296 kB)

Included in

Social Work Commons

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