Sexual Violence in Amish Communities

The Amish are a group of traditionalist Anabaptist Christian church fellowships who believe that a simple life characterized by discipline, dedication, and humility is God’s vision, and honoring this lifestyle is seen as a religious practice.^1-3 They exist in tight-knit communities and make most of their living through farming and other pre-industrial methods. The Amish separate themselves from modern aspects of society, such as modern clothing, technology, and vehicles.³ 

Amish vs. Mennonites

Mennonites and Amish share the same roots and core beliefs, but practice them differently. While there are many differences between Mennonites and Amish, Mennonites are primarily characterized by less restrictive rules regarding engagement with outside communities and modern technologies.^2,4

Culture and Leadership

Amish culture centers community over the individual.³ Church leaders, such as the bishop, deacon, and ministers are also the leaders of the community.⁵ They have their own governance and have limited engagement with the justice or legal system. It is uncommon to willingly see the Amish engage in lawsuits or other legal situations.⁶ This includes but is not limited to, things like restraining orders, divorces, and child custody cases. While Amish leaders do work with local law enforcement, interactions are limited and individuals are discouraged from going to the police,⁷ as they are outsiders. When the majority of these assaults stay within the community, no paper trail can be used to track repeat offenders and it is difficult to estimate the scope of the issue.⁸

Men are both the community leaders and the spiritual heads of their households.⁹ When an assault happens, those who decide what happens next are men. While men can be sexually assaulted, women are more likely to face sexual violence during their lifetime, which makes it especially problematic that they are unable to participate in this decision-making process.¹⁰ Amish women are valued and do have rights, but still, the Amish community is a patriarchy and women are taught that they should be submissive.

The Amish are also taught not to question and to follow the guidance of community leaders, who are typically male church officials. When an environment is created that makes compliance a religious value, people can be coerced into doing things they may not want to do. 

Pacifism and Violence

The Amish value non-violence and are known to be a peaceful community, seeking to amicably resolve conflict to maintain peace. Sexual violence is a form of violence, which directly contradicts this value. However, many people, not just the Amish, view sexual assault as the oxymoron, “non-consensual sex,” rather than first and foremost an act of violence. In cases of sexual assault in the Amish community, perpetrator’s have tried to use the defense that they did not hurt the survivor, demonstrating how they characterize violence.¹¹

Shunning

The Amish community is known for a practice referred to as shunning. Shunning is when the entire community actively avoids a person due to an indiscretion, and it can lead to total ex-communication from the community.¹² Shunning is a common consequence for those who have perpetrated sexual assault. However, contrary to common belief, shunning does not often lead to ex-communication. Rather, once the shunning period is over, the individual confesses their sin in church and the community is strongly encouraged to forgive them and move forward.^7,8,12 

Repentance and Forgiveness

Due to their religious beliefs, the Amish value repentance and forgiveness over accountability and consequence, and view shunning as the extent of the punishment that perpetrators deserve.^7,8,13 This can be harmful to survivors who not only have the severity of the assault undermined but may be subjected to further abuse once the shunning period is over. When law enforcement does get involved, survivors are discouraged from reporting because they are told that the perpetrator has already been punished for the assault. Survivors may even be the ones who are shunned when they are not believed.

Purity

Another value of the Amish community is the concept of purity, which refers to a state of moral integrity and cleanliness, and it is often tied to an individual’s worth. Purity is also tied to whether or not an individual has had sex, or the concept of “virginity,” and that those who have had sex are “impure.”Not only can this result in social ostracization, but it can make others view them as no longer fit for marriage. Amish women who are sexually assaulted have been accused of “inciting” those who assault them, which can lead to the survivor being shunned, or even excommunicated, rather than the perpetrator.¹¹ 

The expectations set by purity culture can cause immense shame, mental distress, and sexual repression. These mental health struggles are amplified because acting in alignment with purity culture is tied to religion, which can cause many to fear that they are disrespecting their higher power if they are not following purity culture. While sexual assault is not sex, it is a form of violence, many people still do not see it that way and they may feel as though they are no longer a “virgin” if they have been sexually assaulted. Those who are influenced by purity culture may experience amplified feelings of shame and self-loathing that many survivors feel after sexual assault. 

Education

The Amish do not often receive education beyond middle or high school, typically ending around what would be considered eighth grade in the United States school system. In schools, students are taught subjects such as reading, writing, and basic mathematics and receive little to no education in the sciences. They also do not receive any sex education. As a result, survivors may not have the knowledge about anatomy they need to communicate to others what happened to them, let alone the knowledge to label what they’ve experienced as sexual assault.^11,13

No one deserves to experience sexual violence. When sexual violence happens in any community, it should be taken seriously and treated as such. Survivors are deserving of community support and accountability if they decide to seek it out.

Sources

1. BBC – Religions – Christianity: The Amish. (2009, June 23). Www.bbc.co.uk. https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/amish_1.shtml#top
2. Discover Lancaster. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Amish History & Beliefs. Discover Lancaster. https://www.discoverlancaster.com/amish/history-beliefs/
3. The Amish Village. (2021, September 27). The 4 Core Values of the Amish Culture | The Amish Village. The Amish Village. https://www.amishvillage.com/blog/the-4-core-values-of-the-amish-culture/
4. Discover Lancaster. (2024, May 3). What is the Difference Between Amish and Mennonite? Discover Lancaster. https://www.discoverlancaster.com/blog/difference-between-amish-and-mennonite/
5. Elizabethtown College Groups. (n.d.). Leadership | Amish Studies. Elizabethtown College Groups. https://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/social-organization/leadership/
6. Wesner, E. (2010, August 23). Why don’t the Amish file lawsuits? – Amish America. Amish America – Exploring Amish Culture and Communities. https://amishamerica.com/why-dont-amish-sue/
7. Keep Quiet and Forgive | ITVS. (2025). Itvs.org; ITVS. https://itvs.org/films/keep-quiet-and-forgive/
8. National Public Radio. (2020, January 19). Investigation Into Child Sex Abuse In Amish Communities. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2020/01/19/797804404/investigation-into-child-sex-abuse-in-amish-communities
9. An Amish woman’s role in the family. (n.d.). Ohio’s Amish Country. https://ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/an-amish-womans-role-in-the-family
10. Basile, K.C., Smith, S.G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R.W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 Report on Sexual Violence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
11. McClure, S. (2020, January 14). The Amish Keep to Themselves. And They’re Hiding a Horrifying Secret. Type Investigations. https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2020/01/14/amish-sexual-abuse-assault/
12. Strusnik, B. (2022, November 14). Amish Shunning Rules – Amish Rules. Amishrules.com. https://amishrules.com/amish-shunning-rules/
13. Lancaster Online: Amish abuse victims say culture keeps abuse hidden, but new generation is making changes. (2024). Pafsa.org. https://pafsa.org/in-the-news/2024/lancaster-online-amish-abuse-victims-say-culture-keeps-abuse-hidden-but-new-generation-is-making-changes/