USCCB - (FLWY) - Women's Spirituality in the Workplace

Women's Spirituality in the Workplace

The Women's Committee started a project in 2002 to explore the relationship between women's spirituality and their employment outside the home. Between late 2002 and early 2004, a total of 36 arch/dioceses accepted the Committee’s invitation to conduct focus groups on women’s spirituality in the workplace. More than 800 women participated in the focus groups, which explored such questions as: What do you find satisfying and frustrating about work? How do you balance home and work responsibilities, and how do you fit in volunteer activities? How do you make time for spiritual activities? Does your spirituality affect your work, and vice versa?

The Committee compiled the results from the focus groups into three reports. Report I describes the results from 17 focus groups that were held from November, 2002 until January, 2003. Report II includes the results from an additional 19 arch/dioceses that sponsored groups between the spring of 2003 and spring, 2004.

Fourteen arch/dioceses held an additional focus group to explore in more depth some of the issues that had arisen during the first round of focus groups. These groups explored such questions as: How is your personal identity affected by your workplace experiences? What effect does your work have on your marriage and family life and on other relationships that are important to you? What experiences in the workplace do you think are specific to women? The results from these focus groups are described in Report III.

Because of the success of the focus groups, additional dioceses may wish to participate in this project. Focus group materials, including instructions and two templates, are available. They may be adapted for use in parishes and small groups.