This book is a sociological inquiry into the nature of an emergent role passage. The book's focus is on 30, 000 Roman Catholic nuns who left their convents to secular roles and lifestyles. It is the first work to consider systematically the substantive and theoretical dimensions of this type of role passage. In doing so it raises important questions about the salience of religious life in modern society, the transformation of women's position in social life, and the dynamics of role change in adulthood.