Abstract:

The current study examined the role of self-esteem in the willingness to help people with disabilities among young ultra-Orthodox women. On the one hand, these women are culturally encouraged to help people in need, but on the other, being associated with anyone with a disability may endanger their marriage prospects. One-hundred-two young ultra-Orthodox Jewish women aged 16 to 23 completed Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (1965) and a self-report scale which assessed their willingness to help people with and without disabilities in hypothetical scenarios.
Findings showed that high self-esteem women were more willing than low self-esteem women to provide help to people with disabilities. The discussion focuses on the limits of the willingness to help under certain
cultural and personal circumstances.

Author(s): Liora Findler, Orit Taubman-Ben-Ari & Shirley Ben-Schlomo

Journal: Religion, Disability & Health

Date: 2005

Volume: 9

Issue: 1

Pages: 67-82

DOI: 10.1300/J095v9n01_05

Databased: Yes

Disabilities: General

Categories: Clergy/Theology, Congregations