51-2502 Religion and Gender

In this course, we will look at examples from many different cultures to consider forms of religiosity that are traditionally ‘gendered’, including spirit possession and practices relating to food, ritual, purification, and so on. We will also analyze religions’ constructions of masculinity and femininity around the issues of sex, reproduction, pain and agency?and the religious significance of people who do not fit into traditional gendered categories. Finally, we will take up political problems associated with religion and gender, particularly those associated with secularism and colonialism.

3 Credits
GA HU