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Topics in Gender and Sexuality Studies (490-0-23)

Topic

Feminist Theory and the Study of Religion

Instructors

Sarah Hieatt Jacoby
8474671304
Department of Religious Studies, Crowe Hall 4-134, 1860 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208
Office Hours: Wed 1-3pm, Crowe 4-149

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-335: Mon 2:00PM - 4:30PM

Overview of class

Topic: Feminist Theory & the Study of Religion.

This course aims to put feminist theory and religious studies into conversation with each other in order to examine the resulting intersections, points of mutual illumination, and aporias. The course will investigate the history of feminist approaches to religious studies as well as new directions in current scholarship including black feminist and womanist theologies, goddess feminism, postcolonial and transnational feminisms, and secular and post-secular feminisms. We will consider the following questions: What does it mean to apply a gender studies lens to the study of religion? How do feminist conceptions of "liberation" reinforce or reject religious conceptions of "liberation"? How does taking religion seriously transform feminist theory? And how does taking feminist theory seriously transform research practices, subjects, archives, and methods in religious studies? In thinking through these topics, we will (re)read some feminist classics as well as focus on a selection of significant recent works important for students of feminist theory and religious studies. This course seeks to move beyond prevalent assumptions of Judeo-Christian normativity in its analysis of feminist contributions to the study of religion. It pays particular attention to feminist approaches to the study of Asian religions, but with flexibility to highlight other geographic/thematic areas of interest to graduate students enrolled in the course.

Teaching Method

Seminar, Discussion

Evaluation Method

oral presentation and final paper

Class Materials (Required)

TBD

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for graduate students or permission only.