Women & Religion

8-22-16
Feminism: What is it?/ What isn’t it?

8-29-16
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
-August 28,1774- January 4, 1821 (46 years old)
-first American born person to canonized
-Born in New York
-Episcopalian for most of her life
-Father was Dr. Richard Bayley
-At 19 years old, married William Seton
-In the early 1800s, the couple had to file for bankruptcy
-william seton died in Italy, leaving Elizabeth poor, alone with their 5 kids, and thousands of miles away from home
-While in Italy, Seton was introduced to Roman Catholicism by the Filicchi’s
-Returns home in 1805, converts to RC
-Relocates to Maryland due to friendly environment for Catholics
-Opens a school in Baltimore
-Relocates to Emmitsburgh, MD
-Founds the Sisters of Charity

Brief History of Feminism in America

-First wave​: 1800’s; suffrage (among other issues like clothing, temperance, etc)
-Seneca Falls in 1848 (seen as the starting point of American feminism)
-Second wave​: 1960’s; Greater job opportunities for women, Greater opportunities for women in general, such as in
sports; sexual advances: pill, Abortion legalized in 1973
-Third Wave​: 1990’s; More diversity, LGBT issues,

Ruth
-strong devotion to her mother in law, Naomi; has distant relations to Jesus
Esther
-no reference to God although He is implied

9/12/16

Song of Songs
- no reference to God although He is implied

9/19/16

Women of the Early Church

-Saints Perpetua and Felicity (3rd Century AD)
 -martyrs of Christianity. Wrote the first Christian text written by women. Sent to be killed by wild animals for
converting to Christianity.
-Saint Agnes (D. CA. 304)
-turned away men who wanted to marry her because of her love and devotion to God. Died at the age of 12
or 13.
-Saint Macrina (D. 379)
-Sister of two of the Cappadocians (brave theologians)
-Saint Helena (D. CA. 330)
-Mother of Constantine The Great; Fourth Century AD or CE.
-went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where she discovered The Cross
-Saint Monica (D. 387)
-Mother of Saint Augustine (one of the church fathers) (Bishop of Hippo)
-steadfast faith to God, and devotion to her son

St. Julian of Norwich

-had an early life where she may have been married with children
-became an anchoress (voluntarily took on permanent isolation from the world, making her an ascetic)
-The hazelnut
-

ascetism - ​severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

9-26-16
-Discussion: Masculinity and Gender (Jackson Katz)

-Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

-Born in Germany
-Sickly as a child; cared for by Jutta
-Youngest of ten (dedicated to the church since she was the 10th child)
-experienced visions at a young age
-sort of a Renaissance women before there was such a thing
-helped to form a religious community of women
-move to Saint Rupertsburg
-Visions, ​Ordo Virtutum (morality play), ​Letters, Musical compositions, medical writings (gynecology
writings), ​Lingua Ignota
-​Polymath

-Discussion: Essentialism and Gender Identity (LGBTQ)

10-10-16
MIDTERM PART 2 REVIEW
1. Feminism

-Advocacy of women’s rights regarding equality to men while also realizing and respecting the inequality between
genders that has happened and still exists

-an ideology that argues that we don’t have gender equality but that we should and encourages people to work
toward it. The focal point tends to be on women but is not limited to them.

2. Essentialism

-argument that some things are inherently masculine or feminine. Often critiqued and questioned by feminists.

3. The Three Waves of Feminism (in America)

-First wave​: 1800’s; suffrage (among other issues like clothing, temperance, etc)
-Seneca Falls in 1848 (seen as the starting point of American feminism)
-Second wave​: 1960’s; Greater job opportunities for women, Greater opportunities for women in general, such as in
sports; sexual advances: pill, Abortion legalized in 1973
-Third Wave​: 1990’s; More diversity, intersectionality, non-white feminism, LGBT issues

4. Femme Fatale (“Deadly Woman”)

-​Woman who brings about the ruination of men. Feminists are critical of this stereotype. Problematic character..pp

5. Gender Binary

-​the idea that everyone can fit into a category of traditional masculinity or femininity.

6. Madonna/Whore Binary

-​Reducing women to their sexuality; if they follow the rules of patriarchy, they are a madonna; if they don’t follow the
rules, they are a whore

7. Toxic Masculinity

-​Understandings of manliness that oppress men and women.

8. Cat-calling

-​Unwanted calling out to women, usually focusing on their appearance or sexuality.

9. Lilith

-​Adam’s first wife whom Adam rejected because she was not submissive enough

10. Intersectionality

-​One person receiving multiple forms of oppression.