The Meanings and Functions of Occupations Related to Spirituality for African Nova Scotian Women

Abstract

This article explores the meanings and functions of spiritually-related occupations for 50 African Canadian women in Nova Scotia, Canada. All but two women were affiliated with a Christian church. Using qualitative in-depth interviews, several spiritual occupations were identified by participants: prayer, Bible study, reading other sacred texts, private devotion, singing spiritual songs, and church-related activities such as committees, community ministry, choir, and leading Sunday school. These occupations were part of a holistic conception of health, and helped to protect against the psychological effects of racism. They connected women with church and spiritual communities, including ancestors. These communities and personal relationships with God gave women moral guidance for living according to their values and principles. Spiritual occupations were central to meaning-making, helping women reinterpret suffering as challenges accompanied by God's blessing, and providing hope through transcendence. For these women, spiritual occupations were part of surviving in the context of racism.

Keywords:

• Occupational meaning
• Occupational function
• Spirituality
• Religiosity
• African Canadian
• Race
• Racism

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the women participants; the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation for funding (J. Etowa PI); the Health Association of African Canadians for initiating the project; the other members of the Strong Black Woman research team (Wanda Thomas Bernard, Sharon Davis-Murdoch, Sue Edmonds, Felicia Eghan, Jacquie Gahagan, Anne Houston, Barb Keddy, Charlotte Loppie); research staff Janice Acton, Yvonne Atwell, Kim Bernard, Danielle Carter, Julius Egbeyemi; Dr. Robin Stadnyk for a provocative critique of an earlier draft; and the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful reviews.