The FSR Blog is a place where studies regarding the intersections between feminism and religion are shared with a wide audience. MORE »
By Emily Rutledge During a time when Romans ruled, and many Jewish leaders straddled the empire and the Torah-it was Jesus who came to turn the establishment upside down and extend the love of God wide. Jesus taught that the outsider was in, that abundance was possible, and that love was the way. The feeding […]
By Julia Madden In the Gospel of Mark 7:24-30, we find an unexpected encounter between Jesus and a Syrophoenician woman. It is a story in which Jesus, who often holds the role of teacher and healer, is challenged and ultimately “schooled” by a woman with no perceived social power. This text highlights the importance of recognizing […]
Over the years, Dr. Kate Ott has helped shape the voices, questions, and commitments of feminist studies in religion. As she steps back from her role, we honor her legacy by revisiting some of her most impactful contributions. Thanks to a special arrangement with Indiana University Press, the following articles by Dr. Ott will be […]
By Courtney O’Banion Smith. In her book Dawn, Octavia E. Butler scrutinizes issues of patriarchy and gender through the protagonist, Lilith. The Oankali—a terrifying, biotechnologically superior alien species—all but force this African American woman to become the thankless savior of humanity. A self-proclaimed feminist, Butler’s fiction often features Black women as strong, complicated heroes through […]
By Kaya McCluskey. Two cultures collided in my home of origin. Growing up, I experienced Catholic Mexican family members depending on the collective. It felt wrong not to include the whole family at every gathering, not to mention heaven. On the other hand, white evangelical culture preached exclusively individual salvation. Some family members might be […]
By Alexiana Fry. I had the pleasure of recently presenting alongside several others at a conference called “Barbie and the Bible: Conversations in Pop Culture, Gender, and Theology,” put on by Fuller Seminary and the University of Dayton. In preparing for the event, I packed all of the pink I had—which admittedly was not challenging […]
By Tamisha Tyler, EFSR Co-Editor In the Summer of 2023, American audiences were delighted with the new Barbie movie. The film not only sparked nostalgia in its audiences, but it also served as a take on women’s empowerment and discovery. Its commercial success led many to consider how Barbie changed our lives and culture. These […]
By Jaeda Calaway. She stands with hands raised to each side, crayon marks on her face, an ill-fitting dress with paint stains, and hair haphazardly cut short. She is “Weird Barbie.” She offers “Stereotypical Barbie” a choice represented by the shoes she holds. A pink high heel represents the past Stereotypical Barbie seeks to restore […]
By Anneli Loepp Thiessen. Anneli Loepp Thiessen is a 2024 Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza New Scholars Award winner. You can read her award-winning article in the most recent edition of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, available now. From its earliest days as a movement, contemporary worship music has drawn heavily on intimate and romantic […]
By Christy Cobb. In the United States, female undergraduate students are twice as likely to experience rape than to be robbed. Approximately 13% of all students—male and female; graduate and undergraduate—experience sexual assault or rape. These statistics are likely not a surprise to those of us who regularly teach undergraduate students, like myself. What might […]