This dissertation considers current theological discussions about kenotic aspects of humanity and goes beyond them, imagining a theological anthropology in which kenosis is humanity's defining characteristic. Yet "kenosis" has been a widely used, little defined concept in theology, from its origins in Christology to its more recent anthropological usage. The dissertation, thus, seeks to define kenosis in a way that makes it applicable to more than an act, but to a whole existential orientation. The dissertation makes "vulnerability" a central aspect of kenosis; it is the condition of kenosis. A person truly lives kenotically when she embraces this vulnerability and uses it as a source of strength. In making this argument, the dissertation engages concerns about kenosis' usefulness. I address the fears that kenosis may be harmful for those who are abused. Indeed, the dissertation shows how kenotic responses not only to abuse, but to any kind of suffering, can help a person heal from trauma.