WGS 356L Faiths & Feminisms: Women, Gender, Sexuality & Religion in the U.S.

3 Credit(s)

This course explores feminisms and theologies - or varieties of “God-talk” - as resources for each other. The course engages key questions raised by students and non-students alike: what does it mean to have feminist politics and belong to a faith community? Can this be done? Is it desirable? What are the consequences? Starting from these personal-political questions, the course attends to the history of women and religion in colonial America and the United States. Selected feminist and womanist engagements with and challenges to aspects of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism in the contemporary United States are examined. The course explores women’s - and transpeople’s - experiences of religion and spirituality, both their leadership and their struggles within various faith communities. The professor and students analyze the ways that ideas about gender, racial/ethnic, economic, and sexual hierarchies are deeply entwined in theologies that oppress as well as those that seek to liberate. The course also investigates contemporary queer theologies and current thinking about feminism, secularism, and humanism. Student experiences and questions help guide the study of feminist scholarly research and writing in the fields of history, theology, criticism of sacred texts, politics, and literature. RELSTY 356L and WGS 356L.

Diversity Area: United States

Enrollment Requirements:
Prerequisite: One WGS or RELSTY course