Violence, Volition, and Volatility: The Embodied Subjectivity of Women in Cults

This paper explores the embodied experience of 25 women who are former cult members. By delving into the stories of three protagonists, we examine how these women engaged with and possibly redefined the cult's socially constructed notion of womanhood. Building on Elizabeth Grosz's theory of subjective embodiment, we demonstrate how these feminine subjectivities were born at the convergence of three distinct forms of authority: charismatic leadership, the influence of Jewish tradition, and the principles of New Age spirituality. Through these lenses, these women formed their own ideals of motherhood and 'maternal instincts, thus subverting the corporal and symbolic norms dictated by the cult. This multi‐faceted approach illuminates how former cult members navigate and resist prescribed roles, ultimately fostering a nuanced understanding of the interplay between authority, tradition, and personal agency in their experiences.