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Defining and Exploring Modesty in Jewish American Women

Journal of Religion and Health volume 50, pages 818–834 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Whether culture-based modesty may be a barrier to women’s health care has been a longstanding question. Numerous studies have noted that, in certain cultures, modesty is considered a barrier to mammography screening and breast feeding. Though modesty has been noted as an inherent aspect of the lived experience of many cultures, no extant measures or clear definitions were found. Jewish women, some having strict rules regarding modesty, were sampled to understand their definition of modesty. These perspectives were objectively analyzed using Q methodology. We found that although some perspectives on modesty may be accounted for by culture, there are others that are not.

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Acknowledgments

The author was funded by a grant from the Women’s Health Research Group, University of Maryland Baltimore. Much gratitude to Dissertation Chair Dr. Louise Jenkins, University of Maryland School of Nursing for guidance, support, and mentorship.

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  1. Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute, Northwest Hospital Center, 5401 Old Court Rd., Randallstown, MD, 21133, USA

    Caryn Scheinberg Andrews

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  1. Caryn Scheinberg Andrews
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Correspondence to Caryn Scheinberg Andrews.

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Andrews, C.S. Defining and Exploring Modesty in Jewish American Women. J Relig Health 50, 818–834 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9435-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9435-7

Keywords

  • Modesty
  • Jewish
  • Culture
  • q-methodology