“Breaking Free”: A Grounded Theory Study of Atheist Women in the United States

Using a critical, grounded theory approach, we interviewed 31 atheist-identified women to ascertain the ways in which develop and navigate an atheist identity how their experience is influenced by patriarchal, hegemonic Christianity United States using concealable stigmatized framework. Qualitative analysis resulted six core categories: (1) Embracing Atheism as Liberation, (2) Escaping Christian Patriarchy, Challenging Atheist (3) Low Identity Salience Provides Protection from Anti-Atheist Discrimination, (4) Expectations Conform Norms, (5) Disclosure Requires Thoughtfulness Purpose, (6) Connecting with Other Atheists Valuable Elusive. Although experienced sexism within communities that made connecting other atheists challenging, participants viewed atheism liberating them religious patriarchy. Anti-atheist discrimination was common early women’s development, but not frequent or salient over time. Rather, hegemony expectation adapt norms were more distressing than individual acts of anti-atheist discrimination. Therefore, concealment disclosure used reduce personal discomfort protect others’ feelings, rather avoid overt stigma. Integration previous literature discussed. In interest equitable healthy for atheists, community members leaders are encouraged dismantle patriarchy secular organizations center voices experiences. Clinicians researchers can increase awareness hegemonic, patriarchal influences professional work they serve eradicate such bias methods.