WOMEN AND THE POLITICS OF CHANGE: AN ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS OF WOMEN INREFORM JUDAISM.
Item
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Title
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WOMEN AND THE POLITICS OF CHANGE: AN ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS OF WOMEN INREFORM JUDAISM.
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Identifier
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AAI8801756
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identifier
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8801756
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Creator
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SALTZMAN, ANN L.
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Contributor
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Charles Kadushin
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Date
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1987
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Social | Women's Studies
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Abstract
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This dissertation presents an organizational analysis of women in Reform Judaism. Drawing upon Tichy's network theory of organizational dimensions, it was hypothesized that the technical and cultural dimensions would provide women with an arena of influence as well as access to the formal political structure of Reform synagogues. Other hypotheses proposed that three structural variables which impinge on temple networks would affect women's ability to enter the political arena. These variables included presence/absence of an in-house women's organization (Sisterhood), presence/absence of a paid temple administrator and presence/absence of female clergy. Data were collected via participant observation and interviews in eight Reform temples which varied in structure.;The significance of the structural variables was not confirmed. In contrast, organizational culture typified by the socio-religious history of the temple was important. The data documented two ways in which the technical-cultural dimensions were important to women's participation. First, they facilitated women's movement into formal political positions such as executive officerships which yielded the greatest potential to assert influence over temple policy. However, some women were not interested in moving into executive positions. These women utilized the second function of the technical-cultural dimensions: these dimensions served as a vehicle to foster specific values which women believed to be important to Reform synagogues. The findings also suggested that this retreat from temple politics undercut the ability of these women to foster the very values which they sought to emphasize, and which were frequently different from those held by temple executives. This divergence of values reflected upon the more broad-based tensions within the Reform movement.;The dissertation includes a discussion of the role which women play in articulating the tension within Reform. It also includes discussions of (1) the importance of organizational culture in understanding organizational behavior, (2) the danger of relying upon formal power to obtain compliance in organizations undergoing cultural change and (3) the importance of attending to intra-gender as well as inter-gender differences in organizational research.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
