Valerie Mear

About Valerie’s Research:

As conversations surrounding identity become increasingly prominent, it is important to understand how identity was perceived and constructed in biblical texts. This project focuses on the book of Job, investigating the relationship between social experience, identity, and suffering.
The book of Job is unique in its presentation of multiple voices, both normative and marginalised, allowing for a nuanced exploration of the connection between identity and marginalisation. This project examines how the character of Job and his interactions with friends, family, and the wider community shape his sense of self. Job’s individual identity functions as the key vehicle for the text’s central themes of suffering, theodicy, and wisdom. As Job’s identity shifts throughout the narrative, the text offers crucial insights into ancient understandings of marginalisation, social experience, and belonging.
Drawing on identity theory, queer studies, and disability studies, I will develop a comprehensive understanding of Job’s identity and its implications for the text’s perception of suffering. Applying these contemporary frameworks illuminates how the book of Job speaks to both ancient and modern experiences of identity and marginalisation.