The Routledge Handbook of Mormonism and Gender

by Taylor G. Petrey (Editor), Amy Hoyt (Editor)

The Routledge Handbook of Mormonism and Gender is an outstanding reference source to this controversial subject area. Since its founding in 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has engaged gender in surprising ways. LDS practice of polygamy in the nineteenth century both fueled rhetoric of patriarchal rule as well as gave polygamous wives greater autonomy than their monogamous peers. The tensions over women’s autonomy continued after polygamy was abandoned and defined much of the twentieth century. In the 1970s, 1990s, and 2010s, Mormon feminists came into direct confrontation with the male Mormon hierarchy. These public clashes produced some reforms, but fell short of accomplishing full equality. LGBT Mormons have a similar history. These movements are part of the larger story of how Mormonism has managed changing gender norms in a global context. Comprising over forty chapters by a team of international contributors the Handbook is divided into four

• Methodological issues

• Historical approaches

• Social scientific approaches

• Theological approaches.

These sections examine central issues, debates, and problems, agency, feminism, sexuality and sexual ethics, masculinity, queer studies, plural marriage, homosexuality, race, scripture, gender and the priesthood, the family, sexual violence, and identity.

The Routledge Handbook of Mormonism and Gender is essential reading for students and researchers in religious studies, gender studies, and women’s studies. The Handbook will also be very useful for those in related fields, such as cultural studies, politics, anthropology, and sociology.

646 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2020

About the author

Taylor Petrey is an American scholar of religion with specialities in Mormonism, Early Christianity, and Gender Studies. He is a professor of Religion at Kalamazoo College. He was Visiting Associate Professor of Women's Studies and Sexuality at Harvard Divinity School and Research Associate in the Women's Studies in Religion Program in 2016-17. He was also the Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Associate Professor of Religion at Kalamazoo College and Director of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality program. Dr. Petrey received his ThD from Harvard Divinity School, MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and BA in Philosophy and Religion from Pace University.