Women's Role in Amish Religion: Faith, Doctrine, and Subordination

Introduction

Women in the Amish religion are committed to living a life that is subordinate and subservient to the male members of the community. Many women within the Amish community complacently accept this role, as it is the role assigned to women in ancient biblical scripture. There are many who would argue that women within the Amish community are unfairly suppressed; however, all women living within the community do have the option to choose whether or not they will accept the faith before becoming a member of the Amish religion.

The Amish, otherwise known as "plain people" for their unadorned clothing, live in segregated communities in many different parts of the United States. Speaking what is referred to as "Pennsylvania Dutch," many people in the Amish community avoid casual contact with people living in modern society as a means to avoid most of the conveniences afforded to people living in the twenty-first century (Kelly & Yoder, 1992).

The Amish practice a very strict form of Christian idealism derived from Anabaptist practices of the early 1500s. The Amish interpret church doctrine, as indicated by biblical scripture, very literally. Amish women are considered the caretakers of the family and community within Amish culture. By modern standards the role of Amish women is considered very submissive; Amish women live a lifestyle far more reminiscent of women in Victorian times, where men held the upper hand and made all important decisions. A modern woman may look down upon Amish women as subservient, but the Amish religion actually teaches respect and recognition for the important role Amish women play within their communities, even though it is a role subordinate to that of men.

This paper examines in greater detail the doctrines of Amish faith that govern the role and place women hold within the Amish community.

History of the Amish

The Amish religion originated during the early 1500s as a offshoot of the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland (Kelly & Yoder, 1992). Members of the Amish faith first arrived in the United States in the early 1700s and formed their first settlement in Pennsylvania (Kelly & Yoder, 1992). Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is in fact well known for its large Amish community.

The Amish religion dictates that people living within an Amish community enjoy a very simple lifestyle; as such, they avoid anyone who might attempt to educate them regarding the ways of the modern world. Associating with members of modern society is often considered a sin, as it implies that individuals are consulting with people who might otherwise be shunned by the community.

There are approximately 150,000 Amish living in North America today, with the largest concentration centralized in Holmes County, Ohio (Kelly & Yoder, 1992). The Amish have become synonymous, however, with Pennsylvania, with Lancaster often referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch country (Kelly & Yoder, 1992). Pennsylvania is perhaps better known because of the tourism that centers on the community rather than because of a particularly large population.

The majority of Amish live on farmland without electrical conveniences or telephone lines, in simple farmhouses that house multiple or large families (Kelly & Yoder, 1992).

The Amish religion is generally categorized into several groups labeled the New Order or the Old Order (Kelly & Yoder, 1992). The Old Order currently has the most members and follows the strictest rules and regulations regarding modern conveniences (Kelly & Yoder, 1992). New Order followers observe many of the older practices but are typically considered more progressive, allowing such conveniences as telephones, air-filled tires, and in some cases electricity in their homes (Kelly & Yoder, 1992).

Church is attended every Sunday, held at a different home within the community each week so that members of the community can keep tabs on each family and ensure they comply with the laws and rules of the church (Kelly & Yoder, 1992). The religion is very unforgiving and requires that the rules of order, called the Ordnung, be followed strictly. If a family disobeys these rules, they are shunned by the community and may even face excommunication from the church (Kelly & Yoder, 1992).

Theology and Doctrine

The Amish religion is very conservative. Their religious beliefs center on interpreting the Bible very literally. Some of their key beliefs include emphasizing the importance of separating themselves from the rest of the world and rejecting involvement in anything militaristic in nature (Hostetler, 28).

They practice worship services in the home and strongly believe that a separation of church and state is appropriate. The Ordnung is the set of oral traditions and rules that dictate how the Amish should live their lives (Robinson, 2000). This set of rules may vary somewhat from one church district to another, but certain key elements remain constant (Robinson, 2000). Generally, the Ordnung requires that members of the community live a simple life, with men functioning as the head of the household in every situation.

Major doctrines also include observance of a document called the Dordrecht Confession of 1632 (Hostetler, 85), which, among other things, endorses social avoidance (Hostetler, 33). The Amish generally avoid outsiders for fear that outside beliefs would taint the community. Amish children do not attend public high schools because the teachings of modern schools vary so significantly from Amish practices. Social avoidance also includes keeping distance from members of the community who have been excommunicated.

The Amish welcome only the pure to religious practice and shun or avoid those who are not pure, a practice referred to as Meidung (Nolt, 17). The Amish do not believe in communicating with anyone who has been excommunicated, including family members (Nolt, 17).

The Amish's strict beliefs include the practice of feet washing, literally interpreting biblical scripture from John 13, where Jesus had his feet washed by disciples at the Last Supper, as an act of humility (Nolt, 82).

The Amish hold to basic Christian ideals such as the acknowledgement of a Supreme Being, of Christ, and of the existence of heaven, and they intertwine those beliefs in their everyday existence (Kraybill, 25).

More cultural than strictly religious practices include the speaking of Pennsylvania Dutch, which is a form of German dialect, though English is taught to schoolchildren (Robinson, 2000). Men are required to grow beards in accordance with Hebrew scriptures and typically dress in plain, dark-colored suits (Robinson, 2000). Women wear plain dresses with long sleeves and a white prayer covering when married (Robinson, 2000).

Conclusion

Unless women within the Amish community speak out regarding the restrictions imposed upon them by their religious doctrines, it is unlikely that the current system of practices will change any time in the near future. Many Amish women joke about their roles, as reflected in the statement regarding technology and men. Again, the most important point to emphasize is that women are not forced into the Amish faith. Like men, women have the choice upon reaching adulthood to accept or reject the faith. They know that by accepting the faith they are committing themselves to a lifestyle of subordination to men. Yet most women accept this role — perhaps because they are not aware of the possibilities that modern society might afford them, or perhaps because even those who are aware are unwilling to sacrifice everything to pursue them.

The religious doctrine of the Amish faith requires that anyone who is not considered pure or who rejects the faith be shunned by the community. Therefore, if a woman does decide to leave on her own, she relinquishes any ties she has to her family and community and may never return. This is an extraordinarily frightening prospect for many women living within the Amish faith, and as such most women would prefer to simply accept their role as subordinate to men. The differentiation of roles was established by biblical scripture, and the religious beliefs within the Amish community are governed by strict interpretation of the Bible. The religion might fairly be considered "old fashioned" at best, because it promotes idealisms that are rooted in ancient biblical texts — a world far removed from the one most modern women inhabit.