The Female Clergy: A Case of Professional Marginality

Abstract

The present paper reports an analysis of data on one marginal position, the clergywoman. At least two general factors have interacted to produce changes in the number and characteristics of clergywomen in the United States in the present century: opposition to women as clergy, and conflict between the roles required of clergy and those traditionally required of American women. Evidence is presented that the females small. The characteristics of females who enter and remain in the clergy are not likely to improve the image and status of the clergywoman. Clergywomen today are generally older and less educated than clergymen. They are less likely to be married to be absent. In comparison with male clergy, clergywomen are more likely to work part-time and to report much lower annual incomes. These charactesitics provide little evidence for the increased professionalization of clergywomen, suggest at least their professional marginality, and may be seen as questioning the labeling of these females as "professional."

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