research study
Do Women Love in Their Pain?
An Exploration in Utilizing Forgiveness
As part of my studies at California Institute of Integral Studes, I am conducting my dissertation on married women who have a consistent daily meditation practice for at least ten years. The aim of this research project is to understand the process of forgiveness.
About me: I am a psychotherapist and meditation student. Throughout the years, I have noticed the importance in delving into the forgiveness practice. It has changed my life and I would like to listen and learn more about the complexicities of women’s real experience in navigating romantic relationships, self, and forgiveness.
Participants must be:
- Identify as cis-women and speak English
- In a heterosexual marriage
- Hold a daily meditation practice for at least ten years
Participants will be eligible to receive a $25 Amazon gift card for their participation. The interview will be 60 to 90 minutes long. Participants can stop at any time they choose.
If interested or know anyone else who may be interested in participating, please take this survey to join the study.
For more information on the study, please reach out to Nicole Ohebshalom at nohebshalom@mymail.ciis.edu
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Abstract
Ethics of care, a normative ethical theory, emphasizes the significance of interpersonal relationships. This concept has prompted ongoing analyses of power structures and their influence on care practices, highlighting the importance of relationships and context in ethical decision-making. While marriages can serve as a crucial avenue for fulfilling human connection needs and care, they can also be sources of emotional distress that disrupt relational harmony. Forgiveness emerges as a vital tool for addressing marital challenges, with gender playing a significant role in shaping emotional responses and coping strategies. However, current research reveals a gap in understanding the dynamics of forgiveness within marriages, particularly concerning women's roles and experiences. This limited knowledge underscores the need for further investigation into how gender influences the forgiveness process and its impact on marital relationships. This proposed study aims to explore the complex interplay between forgiveness and interdependence among married women who are long-term meditators, using care ethics as a theoretical framework. The research seeks to address the inquiry question: "How do heterosexual married ciswomen who meditate utilize forgiveness?" By applying this perspective to the study of forgiveness in the context of marriage and meditation, the research aims to uncover new insights into how women navigate the delicate balance between self and relational connection. The study will employ the Listening Guide, a qualitative methodology, used to gather and interpret data, seeking to understand what women value about their relationships and themselves in relation to forgiveness. This approach will contribute to a deeper understanding of how women who meditate navigate forgiveness processes within their marriages, potentially offering valuable insights into the intersection of gender, meditation, and marital dynamics.
