RELI 245 - Making Waves: Topics in Feminist Activism

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as WFQS 245) Topic for 2023/24a: Feminism, Religion, and Spirituality. Feminism and religion are ordinarily understood to be at odds with one another. Religion is often coded as patriarchal and restrictive, feminism as secular and liberatory. This class interrogates this presumption by taking up the multiple relationships between feminism, religion, and spirituality, from resistance to reform to resourcefulness. The course draws on a wide range of religious and spiritual traditions and global feminist movements. We take up gender and sexuality as central categories for understanding religion as a social phenomenon, and we engage multiple feminist methodologies, including womanist, mujerista, Muslima, and queer critical methods. Written assignments invite students to think self-reflexively, theorize from experience, and critically consider the relationship between religion, spirituality, and “living a feminist life,” in Sara Ahmed’s words. Kirsten Wesselhoeft.

Prerequisite(s): WFQS 130 or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS