2021 SESSIONS
2021 Women's Caucus Programming
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Session #1 - Friday, November 19, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM (CST)
1000 Women in Religion Wikipedia Editing Workshop
Session #2 - Saturday, November 20, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM (CST)
New Books on Gender and Religion
Session #3 - Saturday, November 20, 12:30 PM-2:30 PM (CST)
Re-engaging Praxis: A Call for Action, Feminist Liberation Theologian Network (FLTN)
Session #4 - Saturday, November 20, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM (CST)
Emerging Scholars’ Research on Gender, Religion, Poverty and Inequality
Session #5 - Sunday, November 21, 12:30 PM-2:30 PM (CST)
Biographies of Women in the Parliament of the World’s Religions: Addressing Issues of Equity
Session #6 - Monday, November 22, 12:30 PM-2:30 PM (CST)
Women’s Caucus Business Meeting
Session #7 -Monday, November 22, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM (CST)
International Scholars' Research on Gender, Religion, Poverty and Inequality
Friday, November 19,
9:00am - 12:30pm
1000 Women in Religion Wikipedia Editing Workshop
Addressing Issues of Gender Bias and Knowledge Equity
The 1000 Women in Religion Project – a major initiative of the AAR/SBL Women’s Caucus – works to raise up the underrecognized work of cis and trans women and non-binary folx, important to the world’s religious and wisdom traditions. We do this by adding biographical information onto the Wikimedia platform. This workshop focuses on women of color, especially LATINX but if you are passionate about a particular unrecognized woman, bring your project along. Participants will sign up as wiki-editors, learn the basics of editing, do hands on editing that improves existing articles and more. THIS IS NOT FOR THE TECHNOLOGICALLY ELITE! We will walk you through the process one easy step at a time. Join us in this practical effort to address issues around knowledge equity by raising up the work of women in religion in ways that reform the gender biases that shape our systems of knowledge production.
Saturday
November 20, 9:00-11:00 am
New Books on Gender and Religion
This session presents women scholars who have published books in the discipline of women’s studies, gender, theology and religion in 2019-2021. This panel’s authors will provide an overview of their books and share their perspectives on current research being published on women and gender studies. Authors will also discuss how they visualize their books in constructing knowledge and influencing the public sphere. In addition, these scholars will share their experiences regarding strategies and mechanics for getting women’s studies in theology and religion books published, and to offer advice for those seeking publication of related book manuscripts.
Women's Caucus Welcome
Deborah Fulthorp, Grand Canyon University, in Phoenix, AZ.
Deborah Fulthorp, Presiding
Panelists:
Margaret D. Kamitsuka, Oberlin College
Abortion and the Christian Tradition: A Pro-choice Theological Ethic
Debora Jackson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Meant for Good: Fundamentals of Womanist Leadership
Jill Peterfeso, Guilford College
Womanpriest: Tradition and Transgression in the Contemporary Roman Catholic Church
Phyllis Zagano, Hofstra University
Women: Icons of Christ
Kimberly Carter, California Institute of Integral Studies, Responding
Saturday,
November 20,
12:30 pm-
2:30 pm
Feminist Liberation Theologians’ Network (FLTN)
Papers in this co-sponsored session engage with questions about centering the voices of those most affected by oppression and those on the ground attempting to stem the tide. As we witness increased media coverage of various communities engaging in fascism, totalitarianism, and global environmental catastrophes, the question arises: ‘What might the feminist study of religion look like if these contexts are seriously engaged as knowledge-producing, and not merely as objects of research?’ In collaboration with the Feminist Liberation Theologians’ Network (FLTN), this session explores the practical resources Feminist Liberation Theologies offer to combat the growing global backlash. What needs to be reimagined or reclaimed to advance a feminist global trend of shared responsibility, to make the personal political once again, and to develop models of successful political leadership?
Women's Caucus Co-Chair Welcome:
Elaine Nogueira-Godsey, Women’s Caucus Co-Chair Welcome, Presiding
Panelists
Mai-Anh L. Tran, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
From My Lai to Ferguson: Collaterality, Grievous Deaths, Militarized Orientalism, Benevolence, and Racism
Haley Feuerbacher, Southern Methodist University
The Economics of Purity and Marriage: Towards a Communal and Postcolonial Christian Ethics of Sex Positivity Inspired by an Indigenous Women’s Land Rights Movement
K. Christine Pae, Denison University
War on COVID-19: Resurging Indecent Theology
Responding
Mary E. Hunt, Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual
Saturday, November 20
3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
Sunday, November 21,
12:30 pm- 2:30 pm
Monday, November 22, 12:30pm-2:30pm
Monday, November 22, 3:00-4:30pm
Emerging Scholars - Gender, Religion, Poverty and Inequality
In the Emerging Scholars Session of the Women’s Caucus, graduate students and early career scholars’ papers engage in reimagining normative concepts and frameworks within the feminist study of religion and theology. We are particularly interested in proposals that introduce innovation and enhances nuanced understandings of religious practices. This year, these scholars share their research and perspectives on methodologies, pedagogies and political strategies, responding to AAR’s Annual Conference theme on “Religion, Inequality, and Poverty.”
Women's Caucus Co-Chair Welcome
Elaine Nogueira-Godsey
Presiding
Veena Howard, California State University, Fresno
Panelists
Melody Escobar, Oblate School of Theology
“Love on Steroids”: The Unrealized Cost of Kenotic Caregiving among Mothers of Children with a Disability
Kathryn Common, Boston University
Creating New Canon: A Feminist Biblical Case for Expanding Sacred Texts in Ecclesial Practice
Cella Masso-Rivetti, New York University
Transforming Narratives of the Catholic Women Deacons' Debate through Digital Collections
Shivani Bothra, Rice University
Zoom: Technology Empowering Jain Laywomen for Religious Education
Biographies of Women in the Parliament of the World's Religions: Addressing Issues of Equity
In support of the "1000 Women in Religion Project's" efforts to address systemic gender bias on Wikipedia, this panel gathers biographies about women who are noteworthy participants in the Parliament of the World’s Religions since its inception in 1893, but whose gender, geographical location, economic status and occupation obscures their significance. This lack of coverage is fueled by an 18th century definition of knowledge that privileges the scientific method and masculine achievement even as it discounts knowledge and histories that are oral, embodied and unpublished. Panelists will present original research and analysis that make a strong case for each subject’s notability in their religious or spiritual area of influence. They critically analyze the barriers to the production of knowledge by and about women.
Women's Caucus Co-Chair Welcome:
Elizabeth Ursic, and Elaine Nogueira- Godsey, Women’s Caucus Co-Chair Welcome
Janice Poss, Claremont Graduate University, Presiding
Michelle Eastwood, University of Divinity, Melbourne
Anique Radiant Heart: The Invisibility of the Crone
Ulrike Auga, Humboldt University, Berlin
Annemarie Schönherr: Visionary of a Just World Society – for Gender Parity and against Poverty and Exclusion
Mary Hamlen, Harvard University
Audrey E. Kitagawa, Interfaith Activist and Spiritual Leader
Emily Silverman, Graduate Theological Union
Biography of Rae Abeliah: The Weaver of Prophecies
Sheryl Johnson, Graduate Theological Union
Dr. Dolly Dastoor: Celebrated Dementia Researcher, Committed Zoroastrian, and Inter-religious Leader
Kimberly Carter, California Institute of Integral Studies
Dr. Mara Lynn Keller
Jonathon Eder, Mary Baker Eddy Library
Jennifer Howe Peace—Innovator and Trailblazer in Interfaith Education
Karma Lekshe Tsomo, University of San Diego
Radical Inclusion: The Life’s Work of Pamela Ayo Yetunde So Far
Rosalind F. Hinton, LAOUTLOUD
Teresia Mbari Hinga: An African Woman’s Contributions to Religious Dialogue and Knowledge Equity.
Ann Lazarsfeld-Jensen, Charles Sturt University
The Second Silence: The Audience for Women’s Writing
Deborah Fulthorp, Grand Canyon University
Iyekiyapiwin Darlene St. Clair: The Sacred Story of an Eco-feminist Challenging Knowledge Inequity
Responding
Ulrike Auga, Humboldt University, Berlin
Mahjabeen Dhala, Graduate Theological Union
Women's Caucus Business Meeting
Come join in the Women’s Caucus Business Meeting. We will be reviewing feedback from this year’s panels, discussing our ongoing projects, establishing the Women’s Caucus leadership team for 2021-22, and planning for next year’s conference.
All are welcome.
Women's Caucus Co-Chairs, Presiding
Elizabeth Ursic, Mesa Community College, and Elaine Nogueira- Godsey, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Presiding
Panelists:
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Colleen D. Hartung, 1000 Women in Religion Wikipedia Project
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Janice Poss, Claremont Graduate University
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Deborah Fulthorp, Grand Canyon University
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Julia Berger, Baha’i International Community
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Julia Enxing, University of Dresden
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Theresa A. Yugar, California State University, Los Angeles
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Rosalind F. Hinton, LAOUTLOUD
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Kathryn Common, Boston University
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Alicia Panganiban, Mayo Clinic Health System
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Kimberly Carter, California Institute of Integral Studies
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Tracy McEwan, University of Newcastle, Australia
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Sheryl Johnson, Graduate Theological Union
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Mary Ellen Chown, Catholic Network for Women’s Equality
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Polly Hamlen, Harvard University
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Saphira Rameshfar, Baha’i International Community, United Nations Office
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Mary T. Kantor, Arlington, MA
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Alaine Buchanan, Northwest University, Kirkland, WA
International Scholars - Gender, Religion, Poverty and Inequality
The AAR/ SBL Women’s Caucus International Scholars’ papers aim at raising fresh questions and identify phenomena that have been obstructed or not adequately explored. They draw on theory and praxis, introduces perspectives from underrepresented religious and spiritual traditions, and considers the ways that scholarship outside of the US makes important contributions to the American academic discourses on religion, poverty and inequality.
Women's Caucus Co-Chairs, Welcome
Elizabeth Ursic, Mesa Community College, and Elaine Nogueira- Godsey, Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Julia Berger, Montclair State University, Presiding
Cristina Lledo Gomez, BBI-The Australian Institute for Theological Education
Deleted and Reclaimed Borders: Embracing My Native Self in Talanoa and Babaylan Tradition
Lana Sirri, Maastricht University
Islamic Feminism: Discourses on Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Islam
Responding
Ulrike Auga, Humboldt University, Berlin
C. Vanessa White, Catholic Theological Union