Dudley Borough Interfaith Network

Proposed research project – The role of women in faith communities in Dudley

This is a very early project proposal, and one for which we are currently seeking partners.  We have begun discussion with academics from a local university, and will provide more details once those discussions have developed further.  More information below, including on how we came to look at this topic.

Why are we proposing looking at this topic

This project falls under the thematic focus in our business plan of ‘challenging’.  Our aim in this was to address some of the issues which are repeatedly discussed in private or in small groups, but which do not receive attention in public or larger groups, or issues over which discussion is generally considered anathema.

The role of women in all and any faith communities is one of the topics which the Interfaith Network rarely if ever covers in public, and yet is one of the issues most discussed in small groups outside of main meetings.  This seems incongruent with the stated aims of the Network to engage and act on issues important to faith communities.

In addressing this issue we have been keen to avoid the impression of focusing on presumed issues around the role of women in any particular faith community, or to avoid focusing on one faith in particular.  There is a key danger here of seen to be standing outside a group pointing fingers, or of leaders ignoring issues in their own communities, while focusing on perceived issues in others.  Our experience is that this very quickly kills dialogue, and prevents further exploration of important topics.

The proposed project seeks to understand from women in faith communities, what their experiences and feelings are as members of their community, and to reflect their experiences back in a helpful way to faith leaders and activists, prompting further consideration and opening up the matter for wider discussion and action.

The Project (as a draft proposal)

Stage One

To undertake a piece of independent research, speaking with women from four faiths and at least 10 faith communities from across the Borough, to seek their experiences (under an agreed methodology), of life as a female member of their faith community.

The recordings of these experiences would then be combined, so that we have a view from across various faith communities which is not unique to one particular faith, or to one faith community.  In this way we have unidentifiable information about the real experience of women in these faith communities, and information which could not be said to target a particular faith.

Stage Two

The second stage of the project would be to bring this research, in appropriate form to a workshop of faith leaders and activists, to be able to present and reflect these experience for consideration and discussion.

Our hope is, that to be presented with the positive and challenging aspects of women’s experiences is to offer the workshop participants the opportunity to sit with the discomfort of what may be reflected to them, and through this to prompt an ongoing discussion and open focus on these matters.

This project is very much in draft as a proposal, and open for development as we identify partners.