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Call for Papers 2023

AAR/SBL Women's Caucus
AAR/SBL Annual Conference

in San Antonio, November 18-22, 2023


AAR Theme: "La Labor De Nuestras Manos"

There are five women's caucus sessions open for papers at this year's AAR/SBL Conference.
Submit 2023 proposals through the AAR Papers System 
by March 8, 2023.

If unable to enter the submission through the Papers system, e-mail the submission to: aar.sbl.womens.caucus@gmail.com 

Click Here for the link to the PDF broader Call for Papers through AAR.

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Session #1: Feminist Liberation Theologians and “La Labor de Nuestras Manos.”

In light of the 2023 AAR/SBL theme “La Labor de Nuestras Manos,” the Women’s Caucus, in

collaboration with the Feminist Liberation Theologian’s Network (FLTN), invites papers

investigating the intersection of women’s daily experiences and the academy. How does the

hierarchical dualism between public and domestic spheres manifest today within the academic

contexts? How has the scholarship of women of color studying minority religious traditions often

been unseen and undervalued? We are particularly interested in papers exploring the factors that

perpetuate stereotypes and create taboos around the worth of women’s scholarly works. What

topics are shunned from academic discussions due to lingering patriarchal structures in the

academy? How does the lack of engagement with topics such as childbearing, menopause,

miscarriage, and motherhood contribute to economic injustices?

Please note Women’s Caucus Session #1 in the proposal submission.

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Session #2: Emerging Scholars:

Religion and the Work of Women’s Hands: Challenges and Solidarities

The AAR/SBL Women’s Caucus invites submissions from graduate students and early career

scholars of any age to present innovative research asking fresh questions at the intersection of

gender and religion in light of the conference theme “La Labor de Nuestras Manos.” (“The Labor

of Our Hands”). Intersectional approaches incorporating class, race, ethnicity, gender, and/or

sexuality are highly encouraged. Scholars may want to examine the dialectic between manual

and academic labor. Respondents might analyze issues such as “women’s work,” maternal

nurturing, agricultural labor, art, self-defense, “holding hands” in solidarity and collective action,

sweatshop labor, child/eldercare, gardening, construction, or grocery store restocking within the

framework of women and religion. How does religion construct such activities in ways that

devalue, exalt, oppress or liberate them? Since the conference will be held in San Antonio, TX,

proposals considering this location are particularly encouraged.

Please note Women’s Caucus Session #2 in the proposal submission.

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Session #3: New Books on Gender and Religion

The AAR/SBL Women’s Caucus invites proposals from scholars who have published books on

gender and religion in 2022 and 2023. Authors will provide an overview of their books and share

their research in theology, biblical studies, or religious studies, focusing on the intersection with

gender, sexuality, and feminist and queer studies. These scholars will also share their experiences

regarding strategies and mechanics for getting books on gender and religion published, make

suggestions on how to overcome publication challenges in the guild, and offer advice to those

seeking publication of their own book manuscripts. Because these are published books, this is

not blind submission. For your proposal, please reply with the book title, book blurb, publisher,

and a copyright of 2022 or 2023, along with a short bio.

Please note Women’s Caucus Session #3 in the proposal submission.

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Session #4: Women's Biographies:

Unpacking African Women Theologians’ Decolonial Methodologies

This panel seeks to increase the biographical coverage of African women theologians who are

noteworthy creators and innovators in the various fields of religion, spirituality, and religious

activism. Women theologians on the African continent have addressed religious, environmental,

socio-economic, political, health, gender equality, and other related issues that affect the African

continent, yet traditional gender bias, economic status, domestic and occupational constraints,

and racist, colonial, and class norms have obscured the noteworthy character of their lives and

scholarly work. In order to appreciate and amplify the works of African women theologians, we

seek proposals that contextualize issues of colonial bias and map how African women

theologians overcome coloniality in their works. African women’s activism and knowledge

often employ storytelling and orality when engaging biblical, theological, historical, pastoral,

and missiological perspectives on theology and ethics. Original research, including attention to

primary sources such as interviews of living subjects, oral histories, transcriptions of existing

recordings, and historical documents, is welcomed. Proposals must demonstrate strong analytical

engagement with the challenge of intersectional issues related to coloniality and the decolonial

advances towards an all-embracing and life-affirming theologies.

Please note Women’s Caucus Session #4 in the proposal submission.

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Session #5: International Session, Women’s Caucus

The AAR/ SBL Women’s Caucus invites submissions from international scholars, particularly

those residing outside of the United States, to present on the intersection of their work on

women, gender, religion, and theology with the AAR’s Annual Conference Theme for 2023: “La

Labor de Nuestras Manos.” We are particularly interested in research that raises fresh questions

identifying phenomena that have been obstructed, peripheralized, othered, and/or not adequately

explored; draws on theory and praxis; introduces perspectives from underrepresented religious

and spiritual traditions and considers the ways that scholarship outside the US makes important

contributions to the US academic discourses on “the labor of our hands.”

Please note Women’s Caucus Session #5 in the proposal submission.

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PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

  • All presenters must be AAR/SBL members and pre-registered for the conference by July 2023.

  • Presentations will be 10-15 minutes in length.

  • Notice of acceptance/rejection will be sent out by April 1, 2023. 

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Please contact us if you need more information or have resources that might be helpful to our members.

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