Amish Women

The same reader who shared with us about Ada the quiltmaker offers some impressions of Amish women in general: How many never-married 60-something Amish women are out there?  The one I know has a very distinct individuality that I believe is due to her single status which has freed her to be the open, in-your-face sort of […]

Continue Reading One man’s view of Amish women

A reader shares the following thoughts on his friend Ada, an Amish quiltmaker.  Per request I have changed people/place names and one minor detail. I liked this: It never ceases to amaze me at the openly honest and frank relationship I have with my friend Ada.  She is the daughter of my first real friend, […]

Continue Reading Ada the quiltmaker

On Friday we had a look at a West Tennessee Amish community, including some signs of Amish businesses in the settlement.  Today Brenda shares a little bit about one of those businesses, a local Amish doll maker: My Amish friend, Kathy, asked me to help her come up with an idea to make some extra […]

Continue Reading Kathy the Amish Doll Maker

Amish Workshops has posted a great look at the process Amish women go through to pin up their hair.  The article features over 2 dozen photos illustrating the procedure. Amish women don’t display their hair for Biblically-based reasons.  They also do not cut their hair, pinning it all up underneath a kapp, or prayer covering. […]

Continue Reading How do Amish women put up their hair?

Amish women let their hair grow, so they have a lot of it.  Hair pins keep all those locks in place, up underneath a prayer covering. I thought I’d give you a look at some plain hair pins.  I picked these up at an Amish dry goods shop (not for personal use, demonstration purposes only, […]

Continue Reading Amish hair pins

You asked some great questions.  I originally said I would just choose some of them to answer.  But in the end I decided to answer them all.  It took about 5 hours, so I hope you enjoy it.  I certainly did. But before we get to that, we have three winners of Success Made Simple: […]

Continue Reading Amish business book winners, and your questions answered

One distinguishing characteristic of the Pinecraft Amish community in Florida is that it attracts Amish from a range of backgrounds, many of whom are seasonal visitors. Because of this, Amish at Pinecraft are likely to follow differing guidelines for daily living (or at least do so while in their home communities). These guidelines, which take […]

Continue Reading The Amish Ordnung

Are Amish women happy? What roles do they play in Amish society?  Do Amish men oppress their women? Feminists are apt to take a dim view of the Amish woman’s position. Amish women do not hold leadership positions, but play key roles in Amish society. Individual experiences vary, as in any society, but some sources […]

Continue Reading The Amish Woman

Today, part 2 of the interview with professors Hurst and McConnell, on their new book on the Holmes County Amish, An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the World’s Largest Amish Community.   If you missed the first part, or would like to find out how to enter a drawing to win the book, check […]

Continue Reading An Amish Paradox–Part 2 of an interview with Charles Hurst and David McConnell

Pastry samples at a Flavor retail store Donald Kraybill shares some photos and comments from a recent lecture trip to Japan.  Professor Kraybill recently spent a week at universities in Tokyo and Gifu and at the Shibunkaku Art Museum in Kyoto, speaking on the Amish. The Amish are quite well-known in Japan, with perhaps more […]

Continue Reading Amish in Japan? Well, almost.