The impact of religious intensification on family relations: A South African example

Using the example of South African Jewish families in which the daughters b ecame Ultra-Orthodox, this article examines the reactions and adaptations o f mothers to their daughters' religious intensification. A qualitative stud y in which 15 mothers and 15 daughters were interviewed found that the moth ers' initial reactions were primarily positive and ambivalent, with some ne gative reactions, but over time the mothers became increasingly ambivalent. Overall, mothers and newly observant adult daughters made serious efforts to maintain family cohesion and relationships of mutual respect. The result s are explained by the South African context, stress theory, the concept of family resilience, and intergenerational theory.