Exploration of Two Former Filipina Devotees: Narratives of Perceived Violence and Harm in a Localized Religious Context
Rendel Deen Ramos
Received: 26 February 2026; Revised: 15 March 2026; Accepted: 13 April 2026; Published: 15 April 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.66074/K9L8Z7X6C
Abstract
This paper explored the multifarious experiences of women who had been members of an organization. The study employed a qualitative narrative approach through a semi-structured interview. This method allows the researcher to examine the relationship between religious practices and the normalization of violence. It highlights how exact adherence to injunctive norms and cultural activities often reinforces social inequality, leading to negative behaviors against women. The study included narratives from two key courageous informants who had left their church institutions, as I explored the impact of these experiences on their identities and their relationships with the world around them. The findings revealed a connection between practices and beliefs that leads to violence. This study emphasizes the importance of properly utilizing knowledge and collective policy changes that support women in church institutions. Lastly, the researcher hopes to contribute to a movement that empowers women and women survivors of violence in a religious setting.
Keywords: gender-based violence, injunctive norms, religious practices, structural violence, women empowerment
Author Information: Benguet State University, Philippines; [email protected]
Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2026