An anthology of seminal articles written by feminist scholars over a period of nearly 30 years which have had a major influence on the development of feminist theories of religion. The selected readings are wide-ranging in content and offer a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural perspective and reflect the work of scholars working within religious studies as well as scholars from other disciplines such as Nancy Chodorow and Judith Butler. The introductory essays by the volume editor linking some of the sections are packed with information about and reflections upon questions, resources, issues and debates vis-a-vis feminism and the study of religions. The book shows how debates about feminism within the study of religion have been influenced by broader theoretical discussions and provides evidence that feminist scholars working on religion have made their own contribution to feminist theory.
Part 1 Undercurrents - intersections of feminist theoretical insights and feminist theory in religious studies: gender, power and miscommunication, Nancy Henley and Cheris Kramarae; is female to male as nature is to culture?, Sherry Ortner; family structures and feminine personality, Nancy Chodorow; in a different voice, Linda Kerber et al; the notion of difference for emerging womanist ethics, Joan Martin; of waters and women - the philosophy of Lucy Irigaray, Lynda Haas. Part 2 Women and religions: gender and power in the new religious movements, Janet Jacobs; the impact of the Islamic movement in Egypt, Hala Shukrallah; religion and feminism - a consideration of cultural constraints on Sri Lankan women, Thalatha Seneviratne and Jan Currie; non-literary evidence for Jewish women in Rome and Egypt, Ross Kraemer; childbirth as a religious experience?, Susan Sered; in the tracks of the Munga-Munga, Diane Bell. Part 3 Critical discourse - framing the challenges in feminist theory: beyond the "big three", Mary Maynard; conceptualizing "patriarchy", Bonnie Fox; black women, sexism and ra
