“What a brave and powerful examination of observance and empowerment…”
— Mayim Bialik, Jewish Feminist & Emmy Nominated Actress
for The Big Bang Theory
“Why do you stay?” It is a common question women are asked in relation to their faith. These are not women who buy into Candace Cameron’s biblically submissive theory; rather, these are women who claim a feminist identity, membership in a particular religious tradition, and practice their faith in spite of gendered challenges.
In a world where women’s issues are political issues and one is forced to take sides, women are judged for their positions in relation to their claimed identities. Feminists argue that you cannot be a “true” feminist if you are a practicing Christian, Muslim, Jew. Likewise, religious practitioners claim that you cannot be a “true” Christian, Muslim, Jew, if you support feminist values. Nevertheless, women who practice these religious traditions and hold feminist values are not uncommon and the question “Why do you stay?” is one that is frequently asked of them.
Hearing the stories of other women is lifesaving. That is the spirit of Faithfully Feminist – sharing our stories, encouraging other women, and acknowledging that being feminist doesn’t mean giving up on your faith. This text is a collection of essays from women who straddle a feminist religious identity and address the questions “Why do you stay?” and “How do you stay?” Contributors discuss personal experience related to their own gendered challenges within their traditions and creatively share their stories of practicing faith in the face of challenge. This book consists of 45 essays written by 15 Christian women, 15 Muslim women, and 15 Jewish women.
July 23, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Just received the flyer from Ursuline College, a “Catholic” college in the metropolitan Cleveland, Ohio area. Since the college is promoting the book, I question whether the volume will contain essays by pro-life feminists or if it only contains those works by feminists who support abortion. Hope to hear from you soon.
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September 11, 2015 at 8:56 pm
I attended the panel of the editors at the JCC/NYC this week and would like to offer my congratulations and thanks to all for this important contribution. I just began reading the book and noticed an error on p. xiv of the Introduction. It says, “In 2006 the Episcopalian Church ordained its first woman bishop, the highest office in the church.”
This is incorrect. The first woman bishop, the Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris, was ordained in the Episcopal (not Episcopalian) Church in 1989. What did happen in 2006 was the election of the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori (who was, at the time, bishop of Nevada), as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The Most Rev. Jefferts Schori was the first female primate in the Anglican Communion. Her nine year term as Presiding Bishop came to a close in June 2015.
I hope that subsequent editions of FRANKLY FEMINIST will reflect this correction. Many thanks for listening and again, many congratulations.
—Prof. Katherine Kurs, Faculty of Religious studies, Eugene Lang College/The New School University.
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November 26, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Greetings, FF,
The women of Ahmadiyya Mosque in Delta, BC and Or Shalom Synagogue in Vancouver BC will be studying this book together in Feb., 2016. As the facilitator, I am wondering if you have any study notes or study guidelines available.
Thank you.
L’shalom,
Tiferet Welch
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December 4, 2015 at 11:56 am
The links on your contributors site to niamalikadixon.com are not working. Can you please refresh to direct people to the website? Thank you! 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Hello. thank you for your comment. This link has been fixed.
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