@article{ref1,
title="The Effects of Ritual Healing on Female Victims of Abuse: A Study of Empowerment and Transformation",
journal="Sociology of religion",
year="1989",
author="Jacobs, Janet L.",
volume="50",
number="3",
pages="265-279",
abstract="This research analyzes the effects of ritual healing on women who have been victims of abuse, including incest, rape, and battering. The study was conducted through participant observation of a women's spirituality group. The focus of the analysis is on the process of empowerment as it is experienced in a ritual context that provides a means for cathartic expression as well as participant identification with female symbols of power. The findings of this study suggest that women-centered rituals are effective in reducing fear, releasing anger, increasing one's sense of power, and improving the overall mental health of those who have experienced the trauma of victimization.<p />",
language="",
issn="1069-4404",
doi="10.2307/3711562",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3711562"
}