The Intersection of Spiritual, Sexual, and National Identity: A Qualitative Study of Mature Dutch Women

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This article reports narratives of mature Dutch women with regard to the interaction of national identity, social/personal views concerning body, and religious conflicts and combinations of secular female body politic. The purpose is to bridge the gap of knowledge among body image, religiosity, modernity, and traditionalism while also examining gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersexed, and queer ideals. Only in Islamic discourse has female embodiment of religious women been linked thus far. Most literature ignores the voices of religious women entirely. The research suggests women from different religious backgrounds combine the false binary of modernity and religiosity in Dutch society, albeit enduring a variety of hardships. Recommendations for further research are discussed.