Course Overview

DESCRIPTION: an exploration of the relationships and roles of women and men in the context of religious life, drawing most extensively on examples from the Christian and Hindu traditions but noting also important Buddhist and Islamic examples, reviewing current theories of gender but then primarily exploring pre-modern accounts of religious life as well as contemporary ethnography (depicted also in several films). We will pay particular attention to the way male perspectives have dominated many areas of formal religious discourse, noting the dissenting voices of women often hidden in alternative (usually less formal) types of expression. Throughout the term we will focus on the question of complementarity: to what extent can women and men's roles complement one another--rather than simply being identical--and yet still allow for gender equality?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES : After taking this course you should be able to:
1. successfully describe, in terms of specific examples from a variety of historical periods, women and men's roles and relationships in religious life.
2. articulate your own unconscious assumptions about gender, especially as you apply these assumptions to religious traditions unfamiliar to you.
3. demonstrate competence in both (a) accurate representation of different types of sources; and (b) systematic reflection regarding the perspectives and conclusions presented in those sources.
4. discuss issues related to gender and religion with the precision of an academic scholar.

SOURCES:In this class I use the term "sources" rather than texts or books, because in this course we will often speak of non-textual material (such as women's oral traditions) as legitimate sources. By "source" I mean a source of information about particular time(s), place(s), and person(s). Of course the sources most accessible to us are the written ones: you are responsible for obtaining those listed below at the Hornet Bookstore, and for bringing the assigned source to each class meeting.

        Rita Gross, Feminism and Religion: an Introduction
      Carolyn Walker Bynum, Jesus as Mother
      Loring Danforth, Firewalking & Religions Healing
      Stephanie Jamison, Sacrificed Wife, Sacrificer's Wife
      Ann Grodzin Gold & Gloria Goodwin Raheja, Listen to the Heron's Words

You will also need to obtain nine (9) short reserve readings listed in the schedule below, either by clicking one of the two links next to each title in the on-line version of this syllabus (but note that both require a PIN, as explained in the introductory remarks to the schedule); or by visiting the library's Reserve Book Room (M-Th 8 am-9 pm, Fri & Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 1 pm-9 pm, across from the first-floor entrance of the main library)

Additional resources (especially those who wish to supplement the limited materials encompassed by the course's very brief survey):

      Bowker, ed., Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions [Oxford Univ. Press, 2000: ISBN # 0-19-280094-9]
      Encyclopedia Britannica (On-line entries re: Religion)

ATTENDANCE: Like most seminars, this course relies heavily on interactive learning, and such learning cannot take place without your being physically and mentally present in the classroom.  Therefore the most fundamental requirement of this course is coming to class consistently, making certain to bring with you the assigned reading materials. In addition, while in the classroom, please be mindful of sights, sounds, and smells that are distracting to the instructor (food, cell phones, entering and exiting during the class meeting, side-talking, etc.), and to a significant number of students as well:

NOTE: in order to receive updates regarding class sessions throughout the term, as well as to submit analytical papers (see below) you are required to maintain an active email address for the duration of the course. Please send me an email to confirm this within the first week of the term; to facilitate my handling of student correspondence, please include the abbreviation "[GRCP]" in the subject heading of all emails. You may register for an advertisement-free email account from any open lab on campus; if you need help, call or visit the Saclink Desk ( 8-7337; on the third floor of Sequoia Hall--follow signs to your left when exiting the elevator).

ASSIGNMENTS: three (2) reading analyses (5-7 pages, 2 x 25 points)
                            one (1) synopsis of an assigned class meeting (2 pages, 10 points)
                            one (1) final paper (10-14 pages, 40 points)
                                   [scale: 94-100 points=A, 90-93=A-, 87-89=B+, 84-87=B, 80-83=B-, etc.]

If you have a documented disability and verification from the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities (Lassen Hall 1008, x6955), and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me within the first two weeks of the term. Also, you are responsible for reading my comments regarding the importance of academic honesty in FAQ, #5-7, and for requesting clarification if there is anything you do not understand.

SCHEDULE: Readings below should be completed by the date of the class meeting under which they are listed. All numbers in the schedule are page numbers unless otherwise noted. The schedule for submission of reading analyses & the synopsis of an assigned class meeting will be worked out during the first week of class; both types of assignments will be distributed to and read by all students in the class.

ON-LINE READINGS: To access the on-line version of the reserve readings--if you do not already have a a library PIN for renewing books on -line, follow these directions on the library's web site. To download the PDF files available through LOCUS, the library's interface for course-related materials--use your saclink usename and ID to access the site, find my name & the course number, and go to "File Manager" by selecting the fifth item under "Course Materials" in the left sidebar. Click on file name to download; if the file does not open, download & install Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download student papers simply click on the appropriate link for a given week; if you downlaod a PDF file and it does not open, download & install Adobe Acrobat Reader as per the link in the last sentence.

Unit 1: Introduction to Gender, Feminism, & the Study of Religion (weeks #1-4)

  August 31: personal introductions & review of syllabus
  
  September 7: Religion, Feminism, & the Sociology of Gender

      Gross, chapters 1 & 2
      Gerson, "What do Women Want from Men?" (reserve/on-line)
      Fine, "One of the Boys" (reserve/on-line)

  September 14: Woman's Perspectives on Philosophy, Psychology, and Gender

      Dalmiya & Alcoff, "Are 'Old Wives' Tales' Justified?" (reserve/on-line)
      Armstrong & Feldman , "On the Power" & "The Nature of Birth" (reserve/on-line)
      Rubin, "The Child Within" (reserve/download) & "Approach-Avoidance Dance" (downlaod)
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

  September 21: Feminist Approaches to Religious Studies

      Gross, chapter 3 (entire) & chapter 5 (149-87)
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

Unit 2 : Semitic Religious Traditions (weeks #5-9)

  September 28: Late Medieval Christian Clerics & the Femininity of Jesus

      Bynum, chapters 1, 2 & 4
      [Addendum: please also read "Introduction," 9-21]
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

  October 5: Late Medieval Women & Feminine Images of Jesus

      Bynum, chapters 3 & 5
      [Addendum: please also read the "Epilogue"]
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

  October 12: Women & Men in Islam

      Hassan, "Muslim Women & Post-Patriarchal Islam" (reserve/on-line)
      Ahmed, "Women and the Rise of Islam" (reserve/on-line)
      Student reading analyses [go to Tim's web site #1 or #2 to download]

  October 19: Contemporary Christian Orthodoxy & the Veneration of Saints

      Danforth, chapters 1-3
      [Argh! please also read the "Introduction"]
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

  October 26: Men, Women, Healing & Politics in Greek Orthodox Traditions

      Danforth, chapters 4-6
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

Unit 3: South Asian Religious Traditions (weeks #10-14)

  November 2: Women & Men in Vedic Ritual

      Jamison, parts I & II; part III (29-65, 88-98, 114-49)
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

     [Jamison 65-74, 99-110--optional reading; but please be warned that this section contains sexually explicit language, as well as descriptions of sexual acts that may be highly offensive to some.]

  November 9: Women & Men in Hindu Epic Literature

      Jamison, parts IV & V
      [please also read the "Conclusion" (part VI)]
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

  November 16: Women in Buddhist Storytelling & Ritual

      Walters, "Gotami's Story" (reserve/on-line)
      Klein, "The Great Bliss Queen" (reserve/on-line)
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

  November 23 : Contemporary North Indian Women, Sex, & Kinship

      Raheja & Gold, preface & chapters 2-4
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

  November 30: Hindu Women & Religious Ritual

      Raheja & Gold, chapters 5-7
      Student reading analyses (on-line/download)

Concluding Reflections (week #15)

  Dec 7 : Lingering Questions & Plans for the Final Paper

      recommended: Gross, chapters 4 & 6

Final Paper due Friday, December 17th (by noon @ MND 2011)*

Student Final Papers

"Women in Vedic Culture vs. the Kama Sutra" (Jennifer Fischer-->download)
"Spirit Possession in Northern Greece and Southern India" (Charlie Peterson-->download)
"Treatment of Women in Early Christian Tradition" (Erica Tranchina-->download)
"Feminism and Religion and Her Voice, Her Faith" (Kathryn Williams-->download)

* All papers submitted to the HRS department office must have my name clearly written at the top to ensure that I receive them. If unable to submit your paper in person to Mendocino 2011, you may email it by the deadline as long as you turn in an identical hard copy within the next 48 hours.

DISCLAIMER:  As you will learn from this term’s study ofreligious traditions (if you didn’t know it already!) the nature of life is change.  In creating this syllabus I have tried to be as careful as possible to get all the details right.  However in certain situations, whenever I notice that an error has been made--or that a change would significantly further the objectives of the course--I reserve the right to make alterations in the syllabus. I will always give you at least three day’s notice, both in class and by sending out an email about the change.

OTHER COURSES OF INTEREST (FALL 2004): •"Philosophy & Feminism " (PHIL 131) •"Sociology of Gender" (SOC 126, 226) • "Sociology of Religion " (SOC 171)