Gender and the Experience of Conversion: The Case of "Returnees" to Modern Orthodox Judaism

Abstract

This essay develops a gendered analysis of the experience of conversion to one particular religious perspective, that of modern Orthodox Judaism. Based interviews with newly Orthodox men and women, our analysis reveals important gender differences in the processes of recruitment and resocialization. Male recruits were more likely to have been active seekers and to have found Orthodoxy on their own, while women were more likely to enter through personal contacts. Men emphasized ethical and workplace concerns in discussing the appeal of Orthodoxy; women stressed issues related to family and personal relationships. Men reported higher levels of belief in an anthropomorphic God. Questions of gender roles were more salient for the women. These differences are consistent with gender role distinctions both in the wider society and within Orthodox Judaism. Future research should employ gender as a category in the analysis of all forms of religious experience.