Gender, Religion, and Society

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Purpose
This course examines the ways that feminism has changed the world’s religions, how they are studied, and future feminist agendas for them.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, the student should be aware of new research and new perspectives in the following areas:
1) the scholarly meaning of the terms 'sex' and 'gender,' and of 'femininity' and masculinity';

2) ways in religion and society structure the world in terms of sex and gender (as well as class, race, ethnicity and other factors);

3) ways in which American women are similar to each other and to women of other cultures, and important differences among women;

4) empirical and philosophical bases of scholarship regarding women and gender, including major feminist theories and theologies.

You should also gain new analytical skills:
1) practice in close reading and comparison of texts;

2) ability to examine gender and sexuality from a variety of perspectives; and

3) awareness of various scholarly analyses of women and religious practice and thought.

You will also develop other kinds of skills:
1) a refined ability to listen to the views of others and to express your own;

2) a willingness to debate, discuss, and write about issues that are always more than academic;

3) experience in listening/reading other’s opinions and critical analysis; and

4) greater facility in using the internet and library for finding and sharing information .

1) Read the main text and prepare a critical essay.

2) Prepare two book reviews according to attached specifications. There are three novels required for this course. Choose two of the books to do a review.

3) Students will maintain a "collection" of indicators of women's status in religion or in society in general. Students must find at least 24 separate indicators.  Examples of "indicators" of women's status include song lyrics, TV shows, movies, commercials, novels, articles from newspapers and magazines, greeting cards, bumper stickers, posters, clothing, calendars, or personal conversations or experiences. Be creative. Be a sociologist. We see and hear gender images almost constantly.

4) Some students will choose to keep the collection as a "journal."  Others may choose different modes of maintaining the collection, including collages, videotape journals, or as a web page on disk.  Regardless of how the final collection is displayed, a short written analysis/interpretation of each item must be included.

5) A final paper will be submitted as analysis of the full “collection” of indicators.

• Diamant, Anita. The Red Tent. New York: Picador USA, 1997.
• Mirvis, Tova. The Ladies Auxiliary. New York: Ballantine Books, 2000.
• Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Anchor Books, 1998.
• Gross, Rita M. Feminism and Religion. Beacon Press; 2nd edition (October 31, 1996) ISBN: 0807067857

1. Two book reviews. See attached for review standards. Choose two out of the three novels listed.
2. A critical essay of no more than 10 pages on the text Feminism and Religion by Rita Gross. See attached for critical essay instructions
3. A collection (in agreed upon format) of “indicators” (see #3 and #4 under Methodology).

Book Reviews: @ 100 points each = 200 points
Critical Essay @ 100 points = 100 points
Indicator collection @ 100 points

Total = 400 points

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