
doi: 10.11575/prism/28236
handle: 11023/2244
The focus of this dissertation is centered on the lived experiences of married immigrant Coptic women in Canada with regards to aspects of living their faith in the context of the culture of their traditional Coptic Orthodox Church. A descriptive phenomenological inquiry was undertaken as a methodological framework to gain understanding of the lived experiences. In an attempt to capture the meaning and the interpretation of the described lived experiences, the symbolic interactionist approach served as a theoretical framework. Feminist principles were also incorporated in order to facilitate the research process in understanding the lived experiences in this descriptive phenomenological inquiry. Purposive sampling techniques were employed; eight participants participated in the study from the Greater Toronto Area through the Coptic centers located in Mississauga and Toronto. It was through semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions that the interpretation of their experiences emerged. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed according to the descriptive phenomenological approach. Thematic analysis was the level of data analysis that was applied in aiming to capture thematic statements of the meanings regarding the phenomenon on the basis of the descriptive phenomenological approach. NVivo software was used to create thematic emergent themes and thematic coding folders in facilitating the data analysis. The study illuminated valuable insights and provided married immigrant Coptic women the opportunity to express their lived experiences within the culture of their Church; an opportunity they previously might not have had. Findings showed consistent understanding among all the participants in this study who all believed they held the greatest status in, and through, the patriarchal system and structure of their Coptic Church. Findings generated knowledge for social work practice about many of the spiritual and religious aspects of the faith of Coptic women and the influence of their Coptic Church on them.
Coptic Church, Social Work Coptic women, Social Work Religion
Coptic Church, Social Work Coptic women, Social Work Religion
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
