WMST8010 Women in World Religions

2012

4.5

1 x 50-minute lecture weekly
1 x 50-minute tutorial weekly
1 x 50-minute seminar fortnightly

WMST8048 has been successfully completed

Graduate Diploma in Gender and Development; Master of Arts (Women's Studies)

Are women and men equal before god(s)? Do the practices and beliefs associated with various religions (Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Wicca) reinforce gender stereotypes, or are they sources of feminist inspiration? Do conceptions of divinity shape contemporary understandings of gender relations? Are we masters and mistresses of our own spiritual destinies? This topic examines women's experience and representation within a range of historical and contemporary religious traditions and texts. Issues to be explored may include: religious women's implication in institutional scandals (e.g. stolen generation); issues relating to sex and sexualities; women's participation and leadership in religious movements; debates concerning women and Islamic thought; the Goddess movement, Wicca and Post-Christian thought.

Throughout, students will be encouraged to explore ways in which women have been subjugated by patriarchal religions, as well as ways in which women have transgressed, challenged and changed religious thought, interpretations of sacred texts and spiritual practices.

The topic aims to offer students the opportunity to produce in-depth analysis and evaluation of a range of historical and contemporary issues under debate in feminist analyses of religious/spiritual theories and practices.

Students successfully completing this topic should be able to:

• analyse the representation of women in a number of spiritual-religious discourses
• identify, differentiate and evaluate feminist challenges to various spiritual-religious discourses
• debate the effects of women's participation and representation within various spiritual-religious traditions