An Ethnographical Approach to Relations Between Spirituality, Gender and Health

Abstract

The following article attempts to investigate how some women involved in the holistic milieu are understanding and experiencing spirituality. Based on their narratives and corporeal practices, the elements that emerge in their spiritual life experiences will be analysed, paying special attention to the corporeal, health, and wellness ideologies, gender relations, and worldviews that take place in such holistic environments. The spirituality of these women constitutes a highly complex phenomenon where both cultural continuities and critical social proposals are being articulated. Therefore, this article presents an ethnographic analysis that is a particularly fruitful approach for observing the convergence between contemporary spiritual needs and health practices.