Amish Women

Child discipline: Founded on Christian faith, Amish culture adheres strictly to the words of God. Children learn the norms of fearing God and separation from sin from their parents and the church. Parents and the church institute discipline as well. Spanking an erring child is common in Amish societies. Children are very respectful and obedient to their parents and elders according to the scripture “ Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (Exodus 20:12 NKJ version).

Culturally speaking, American children usually are not spanked when they do something wrong. However, there are several other ways these children can be corrected when they do wrong things, by denying them something they value such as watching movies, until they are ready to behave well.

Dressing: Amish women wear the gab of humility. They are modest and simple in their dressing, and they do not use cosmetics, jewelries or expensive costumes. They believe these are synonymous with pride and that the false mask of the “made up” face is seen as a lie that covers up the real face. All jewelries including wedding rings and wristwatches are taboo. The Amish women design nearly all the costumes worn by the members, ranging from babies to adult male and female. They wear different costumes for different occasions but these are simple homemade costumes meant for church, home-use, public places, and funerals. Amish wear is largely in form of uniforms, designed as a mark of identity within the spheres of the Amish.

The American contemporary women can sometimes dress to “kill” for different occasions; work, church, Christmas, wedding and other important functions. On a typical Sunday service, it is as though women are competing for best outfit in the church. (Though unconsciously) They view any one who does not dress good as being poor or unfashionable. Some women put on make up that changes the entire physical outlook. The culturally complex American society does not favor a dressing code; American women are comprised of multi ethnic groups that dress in conformity with their individual culture.

Social Cultural: Amish women are home people, they center everything on the home, and Church services rotated from home to home of members. Social events, singings, “sisters Days” quilting parties, work and leisure staged in the homes. (Though of recent, people take trip of several weeks to other settlements, shorter trips to historical sites, the Zoo or a flower show) Vacation to a small Amish village in Florida called Pinecraft, a tourist village for the retirees. Amish travel by van train or bus but not air. Despite these travels, home remains the site for many activities, much of their food is homegrown, and clothing is homemade.

The American woman on the other hand, socializes a lot had many friends, travels widely by bus, rail, sea and air. A lot of activities mark the day of a typical American woman; going to work outside the home, frequent visit to the clubs, the spa, concerts, school activity/programs arranged for the kids, dinning out, attending parties, different shows such as car or dog show and watching television relaxedly in their homes.

Spiritual: The Amish have intertwined culture and religion, it is difficult to separate culture from religion, and the blending of the two forms the basis of Amish constitution and practice. Anything out of the context of their spiritual believe is culturally rejected. The combination of the two distinguishes an Amish from the outside World, shapes the ways the women relates to their husbands, children and the community as a whole. In part, this contributes to the success and growth of the Amish. The women are humble, reference their husband and God and totally submit themselves to the whims and caprices of the constituted church authority. Confrontation is an abomination even when things do not go right, Amish will rather use diplomacy rather than confrontation.

In the contemporary World, the culture and religion of American women are distinct from their religions, although American women belief in the scripture, they are not as submissive to the husbands as the Amish, American women are well read, they occupy positions of power both in their secular jobs and in the church. Some women are ministers, deacon and treasurers in the church. There is power struggle between the women and the men.

Economy: Amish women own nine percent of the Amish businesses. They cherish thrift, save money in trust funds to buy houses and small businesses without going through mortgages. This is possible because the Amish live an austere life. Rags are recycled instead of throwing them away. They do not send children to college and as a rule do not pursue luxurious life.

American women on the contrary live a visibly ostentatious life, buy good cars, clothes, ornaments, expensive perfumes and wrist watches, they buy quality houses they cannot possibly save for, hence they pay exorbitant mortgages over a period of ten to thirty years.

Political: Amish are not politically ambitious, they see vying for public offices as showing off and pride, which is against the spirit of Gelasssenheit. They do not join the army, the police, and security outfit. They prohibit Political parties. There is no bureaucracy or organizational chart in the Amish society, no paid church employees, any professionals, executive directors or organizational charts. The society is still link together in unity despite this loose structure.

There are rigid organizational structures in the American societies; women compete favorably with men for positions, and they are in the army, navy, air force, police and any security outfit one can think of. Women contest for any elective offices in the States; they are member of the congress, house of assemblies, and directors of corporate organizations, ministers and Governors.

Summarily even though the Amish claimed to have their culture rooted in religion and very faithful followers of Christ, they stunningly do not belief in Sunday schools, reading of the bible, evangelism, no church structures, going to church as a ritual every other week and they cannot say whether they are safe or not. They belief that making a bold declaration of ones salvation is a pretentious self assertion that boarders on idolatry for only God can make such a weighty decision. Even her ministers belief anybody can fall off at anytime, hence to say one is certain of eternal salvation is pride. The Amish forbid electricity, yet they use battery-operated gadgets, no wired telephones but some use cell phones in this post modern World. Finally, as much as Amish are entitled to their opinions and religious practices, their claim to holiness seems to me hypocritical as their doctrines ritualistic.