Chaste Liberation: Celibacy and Female Cultural StatusSex is not a simple concept. Focusing on the issue of celibacy, the author explores the cultures of three post-Civil War utopian communities and their relation to female status in American society. From her examination of the Shakers, Koreshans, and Sanctificationists, the author concludes that the adoption of celibacy promoted theoretical sexual equality and female social power in those religious groups. -- Bookjacket. |
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American culture Andrews androgynous Ann Lee Anna White association believers Belton biune Called Shakers celibacy celibate family celibate female celibate systems Christ Spirit Christian church commitment to celibacy Community in Texas curse Cyrus Teed Daniel Fraser domain domestic economic explained female celibacy female celibate female gender identity female spiritual power female symbolism feminist Frederick Evans Frederick W Garrison gender symbolism God's heterosexual intercourse Hollister human husbands ideal interpretation Jesus key symbol Koresh Cyrus Koreshan system Koreshan Unity labor Lebanon lust mainstream male and female Marjorie Procter-Smith marriage Martha McWhirter metaphor of spiritual nature and culture nineteenth century nuclear family opposition promote qualities realm redemptive relationships religion religious reveals roles Sanctificationists Sanctified Sisters Sarah Lucas separation sexual equality sexual intercourse Shaker communities Shaker texts Shaker writers social society spiritual motherhood spiritual reproduction symbolic system Teed theocrasis three groups transformation unified values woman Woman's Commonwealth Woman's Community wrote