RELS/WMST 375:  Women and Religion

•   Course Description and Objectives   • 

In a sense, the purpose of this course is to explore the reasons for the existence of such a course.  Why study “women and religion” as distinct from religion in general?  Are women’s religious experiences different from those of men?  In what ways?  Have the major world religions served to enhance or degrade women’s status through history?  Is that a fair question?  What methods are appropriate to trying to answer it?  What role does religion play in the social construction of gender?   What cross-cultural similarities in the roles and images of women in religion can be found?  These questions are the point of departure for our semester-long investigation into the religious experiences of women. 

The course is structured around five cross-cultural themes:  re-reading history; women and creation stories; the body and sexuality; goddesses and other sacred females; and the current global tension between feminism and fundamentalism.  Under each of these headings, we will consider different case studies that reveal both common patterns and unique instances in the ways in which religion works to construct (and deconstruct) women’s lives. 

It is hoped that by the end of the semester you will have achieved:

• A working understanding of selected religious concepts, figures, and texts as they pertain to the lives of women
• A richer, more complex understanding of both “religion” (it’s not just a set of beliefs) and “feminism” (it’s not just the belief that women are equal to men)
• An appreciation of the ambiguous relationship between religious ideas and the construction of gender roles in history and contemporary society
• Tools to continue to explore the significance of religion and gender in your own life and society

Things that are not prerequisites of this course:
            Being a woman
            Being a feminist
            Prior work in Religious Studies or Women’s Studies

Things that are prerequisites of this course:
Ability to listen respectfully and thoughtfully to ideas with which you may disagree
            Willingness to open your own ideas to critical examination
            Patience with the frustrations that come with real dialogue

•   Theme O:  Women’s Issues  •

This is an approved General Education course for Upper Division Theme O, Women’s Issues.  Courses in this theme seek to:

• Define various feminist theories, perspectives, and methods of studying women as these theories relate to the discipline represented by the course
• Explore the impact of class, race, gender, and sexuality on women’s lives and place in society
• Discuss the historical and current practices, institutions, and belief systems that maintain the subordination of women
• Read materials by feminist writers and researchers
• Identify ways in which have brought about social, economic, and political change

These courses are multidisciplinary in nature and share the goal of modifying academic studies in both content and form to include and enhance the experiences of women.  Your experience with the theme courses will be enriched by keeping these objectives in mind and observing the different ways your courses fulfill and integrate them. 

•   Required Texts • 

• Tamara Agha-Jaffar, Women and Goddesses in Myth and Sacred Text (available at the AS Bookstore)
• Arvind Sharma and Katherine K. Young, Her Voice, Her Faith (available at the AS Bookstore)
• Packet of Supplemental Readings, available at Mr. Kopy
• Selected readings available on WebCT/Vista

Please bring appropriate readings to class each session to facilitate discussion. 

•   Course Requirements and Grading  • 

This course is participatory in nature.  You simply will not do well if you do not come to class, complete reading and writing assignments, and make an effort to contribute to class conversations.  I will take attendance daily and make regular notes about participation. 

We will form small groups at the beginning of the session with whom you will work on 3 in-class projects.  These will require a small amount of preparation work (for which you be evaluated individually), and in-class collaboration and presentation (on which you will receive a group grade). 

In order to ensure that you are keeping up with the reading and to help develop your critical reading skills, you will be required to submit a reading card most weeks on one of the assigned readings.  These must include a statement of the article’s thesis (in your own words), two to four important supporting points, and a question raised by the reading for you (specific instructions to follow).

At the end of three units, you will be assigned a 3-4-page integration paper, drawing together the material from that unit in response to a question I will raise.  These papers require you to make explicit use of readings and lectures, as well as to incorporate your own critical reflections.  Three papers will be assigned; everyone must do two (specific instructions to follow).

To encourage you to keep up with the basic data of the course, there will be four short, unannounced quizzes of various styles (mostly multiple choice) throughout the semester.  Some of these will be done in groups.

Finally, there will be a midterm and a final exam that will involve both objective and written elements.  Study guides will be provided. 

Grading will be based on the following point system:

• Attendance and participation                 35 points

• Group projects                                          75 points total (3 at 25 points each)

(15 points for individual preparation, 10 points for group presentation.  Points based on level of collaboration; depth of analysis; specific use of readings, clarity of presentation, etc.) 

3.  Reading cards                                           100 points total (10 at 10 points each)
(Points based on accurate representation of the thesis and supporting points, thoughtfulness of the question raised.  You will be assigned 11 cards; you must complete 10.)

4.  Integration papers                                     100 points total (2 at 50 points each)
(Points based on clarity of writing, demonstration of understanding of central issues of the unit, use of course-specific supporting material.  Three papers assigned; each student must do two.)

5.  Quizzes:                                                      40 points total (4 at 10 points each) 
(Quick check-ups drawing from recent readings and lectures.)

6.  Midterm and final exams:                          100 (50 points each)
(objective and essay questions)
                                                                                                                                               
Total                                                                450 points

•   Other Things You Need to Know  • 

Lateness:  In fairness to those who could have done better with more time, I will penalize late papers at the rate of 1/3 letter grade per business day.  For instance, a B+ paper that is two days late receives a B-.

Office Hours:  Use them!  I am available to you to discuss course material, your progress, and general issues of women and/or religion.  We can talk in person during my scheduled hours, or by e-mail.  Talking with students is one of the most pleasurable aspects of my job, so don’t hesitate to use these opportunities. 
  
Students with Certified Disabilities:  Please notify me of any special needs relating to your disability within the first two days of the course.  I will make every effort possible to facilitate your success in this course.  Please note that you may be required to show documentation of your disability.

Academic Dishonesty:  If there is evidence that you have been involved in any form of academic dishonesty, you will receive an “F” grade for the course, and a report will be provided to Student Judicial Affairs for further action.  Be careful in all of work (classroom presentations as well as written assignments) to properly cite your sources (including online materials).  Please see the “Religious Studies Academic Integrity Policy” under “Student Resources” on the RS Department Home Page for more information on what constitutes academic dishonesty and the departmental policy.  Ignorance of proper citation methods is not a legitimate excuse for violation of this policy.

WebCT:  Assignments and announcements will appear on WebCT.  Please be sure to check regularly. 

Schedule of Topics, Readings and Assignments*

*Subject to revision.  Readings are listed for the date by which they should be read.  Those followed by (Packet) can be found in the Packet of Supplemental Readings, which is available at Mr. Kopy and on reserve at Meriam Library. 

Tuesday 1/29            Introductions; basic issues in religion and feminism; formation of small groups;

Thursday 1/31          

Read:                         Her Voice, “Introduction” (pp. 1-9); Rita Gross, “Defining Feminism, Religion, and the Study of Religion” (Packet)

                        THEME 1:  The Search for a Usable History
                       
                                    Case study #1:
Marija Gimbutas and the Controversy over “Old Europe”

Tuesday 2/5 

Read:                   Gimbutas (Packet); Meskell (Packet)

Thursday 2/7            
Read:                   Rountree (Packet)
Due:                      Reading card #1:  Kathryn Rountree, “The Past is a Foreigner’s Country”

Tuesday 2/12                       
In class:                film:  “Goddess Remembered”

                                    Case study #2:
Jewish Women and the Question of the Covenant     
Thursday 2/14                      
Read:                   Her Voice, ch. 5 (pp. 145-167); Women and Goddesses, ch. 11 (pp. 194-201)

Tuesday 2/19:          
Read:                   Exodus excerpts (Packet), Plaskow (Packet)
Due:                      Reading card #2:  Her Voice, ch. 5 (Susannah Heschel, “Judaism”)  
In class:                film:  “Miriam’s Daughters Celebrate”

Thursday 2/21:         
Due:                      Individual prep for Project #1

In class:                  Group Project #1:  Feminist Midrash on Biblical Women     

THEME 2:  Women, Creation Accounts, and the Rise of Patriarchy
                       
Tuesday 2/26:          
      Read:                   Women and Goddesses, ch. 3 (pp. 42-65) and ch.12 (pp. 202-211); Plato’s Timaeus (Packet)

Thursday 2/28: 
      Due:                      Reading card #3:  On each side of your card, respond to the two parts of question #9 on p. 211 of Women and Goddesses (on Genesis 1-3)
      In class:                group work with Genesis creation accounts

THEME 3:  Religion, Women’s Bodies and Sexuality

Case study #1:

Native American menstruation rituals

Tuesday 3/4:              

      Due:                         Integration Paper #1: Women’s Religious History      

      In class:                film:  “Period Piece”

Thursday 3/6:           
Read:                   Brave Bird (Packet); Talamantez (Packet)
                                    (Recommended:  Women and Goddesses, chs. 17 and 18)
Due:                      Reading card #4:  Inez Talamantez, “Images of the Feminine in Apache Religious Tradition” (Packet)

                                    Case study #2
                                    Medieval Christian fasting and contemporary eating disorders
Tuesday 3/11:
Read:                   Her Voice, ch. 6 (pp. 169-213)

Thursday 3/13:         
Read:                   Bynum (Packet); Miles (Packet)
Due:                      Reading card #5:  Margaret Miles, “Religion and Food:  The Case of Eating Disorders” (Packet)

                                   
    SPRING BREAK 3/17-3/21                  

Tuesday 3/25:              Midterm Exam                     

Case study #4:

                                    Muslim women and the politics of veiling

Thursday 3/27

      Read:                   Her Voice, ch. 7 (pp. 215-242)

Tuesday 4/1:

      Read:                   Hoodfar (Packet), Mustafa (Packet)
      Due:                      Reading card #6:  Homa Hoodfar, “The Veil in their Minds and On Our Heads”

Thursday 4/3:
      In class:                film:  “Under One Sky”           

Tuesday 4/8:                        
      Due:                      Individual prep for Project #2

      In class:                  Group Project #2:  What Does it Mean to Veil?        

THEME 4:  Goddesses and Other Sacred Females

                                    Case study #1:
Hindu Goddesses of the Fang and the Breast
Thursday 4/10:         
      Read:                   Her Voice, ch. 1 (pp. 11-57)

Tuesday 4/15:                      
      Due:                         Integration Paper #2:  Religions and the Female Body            

Thursday 4/17:         
      Read:                   Women and Goddesses, ch. 7 (pp. 150-160) and ch. 8 (pp. 161-172); Gupta (Packet)
      Due:                      Reading Card #7:  Lina Gupta, “Kali, The Savior” (Packet)

                                    Case study #2:
                                    Gender Implications of the African Goddess Tradition
Tuesday 4/22:          
      Read:                   Women and Goddesses, ch. 16 (pp. 249-256); Sojourner (Packet); Gore and Nevadomsky, “Practice and Agency in Mammy Wata Worship in Southern Nigeria” (available on WebCT/Vista)
Thursday 4/24:
      Due:                      Reading card #8:  Gore and Nevadomsky, “Practice and Agency in Mammy Wata Worship”
      In class:                Film:  “Mammy Water:  In search of the Water Spirits in Nigeria”

                                    Case study #3:         
                                    The Riddle of Mary
Tuesday 4/29:          
      Read:                   Women and Goddesses, ch. 13 (pp. 212-226)

Thursday 5/1:           
      Read:                   Rodriguez, “Theological Significance and “Conclusions” (Packet); Cisneros (Packet)
      Due:                      Reading card #9:  Sandra Cisneros, “Guadalupe the Sex Goddess” (Packet)
      In class:                Film:  “Flowers for Guadalupe”

Tuesday 5/6:
      Due:                      Individual prep for Project #3

      In class:                  Group Project #3:  American Goddesses?     

THEME 5:  Current Prospects:  Feminisms and Fundamentalisms

Thursday 5/8:           
      Read:                   Ruether (Packet); Brown, (Packet); Gross (Packet)

      Due:                          Integration Paper #3:  Goddesses and Women’s Lives     

Tuesday 5/13:
      Due:                      Reading card #10:  Karen McCarthy Brown, “Fundamentalism and the Control of Women”

Thursday 5/15:          catch-up and review for final

FINAL EXAM SESSIONS:      Section 1 (9:30 class):  Tuesday, 5/20, 12 - 1:50 p.m.
                                                Section 2 (11:00 class):  Thursday, 5/22, 10 – 11:50 a.m.