The possibilities of religion and feminism
Abstract
There exists a popular assumption that feminist theory and politics are incongruent with religion due to the patriarchal organization of many religious traditions. In what ways can certain religious practices and experiences be thought of through a feminist anthropological framework as progressive and liberatory? This research analyzes the perceived distinction and dynamics between feminist politics and religion in Burlington, Vermont. Through an ethnographic examination of sermons delivered at St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Unitarian Universalist Society’s Sunday Morning Breakfast, I present the possibility that religion and feminism may not always be antithetical to each other.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Jenna Emerson
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Anthropology
Primary Research Category
Social Science
The possibilities of religion and feminism
There exists a popular assumption that feminist theory and politics are incongruent with religion due to the patriarchal organization of many religious traditions. In what ways can certain religious practices and experiences be thought of through a feminist anthropological framework as progressive and liberatory? This research analyzes the perceived distinction and dynamics between feminist politics and religion in Burlington, Vermont. Through an ethnographic examination of sermons delivered at St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Unitarian Universalist Society’s Sunday Morning Breakfast, I present the possibility that religion and feminism may not always be antithetical to each other.
