Biblical Framings of and Responses to Spousal Violence in the Narratives of Abused Christian Women

Abstract

Through narrative, the authors examine the coping activities of three Christian women to learn how they used religion to organize actions intended to end spouse abuse. Findings suggest an apparent creative attempt to stop violation. Respondents formed coping strategies from biblical archetypes that resembled their oppression and clued a method to its end. However, their responses encouraged ownership of spousal change and impeded removal of violation. Given these confines, the authors address why religion became an important resource. A discussion on legal and cultural views surrounding abused women's responses and the contextual factors that limit but do not preclude acts of subversion is given.