Feminism and Religion

by Rita M. Gross

Rita M. Gross offers an engaging survey of the changes feminism has wrought in religious ideas, beliefs, and practices around the world, as well as in the study and understanding of religion itself.

Genres: Feminism, Religion, Read For School, Gender, Spirituality, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 1996

Reviews

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one went along far more quickly than I expected. Ms. Gross’ writing style is approachable and clear without the overt heaviness of wordy, elite prose. This subject is one that might leave a unseasoned reason laid bare and bleeding but I was happy to see the even hand of fairness and balance in the attitude of this researcher. This text is diverse in its coverage but there is no overt bias in the writer’s ideas or opinions on the diverse religious traditions. She covers Western and Eastern traditions along with Wiccan and Goddess spirituality as well as a few unusual oddities. She references several leading religious feminists and the research and work that were performed in academia in the 1970s. This is a good starting place for a feminist study of diverse religious traditions. If you are studying on monotheistic religions there are some great passages here but you will need to reference other works as well.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo tuve k leer para mi clase de adivinen jaja sí!! feminismo y religión
estuvo bien, chulito, el lunes tengo un midterm de esto deseenme suerte xoxo

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

There two things in my life that have made me embarrassed of my own vagina:

1) hearing a skater dude named Eric call me "fire crotcher" on the bus in 9th grade

and

2) reading this book.

[Will Haydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a 'Women and Religion' class. Very informative and enlightening!

[m · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was helpful in my gender and religion class and she has some interesting and good points however I could NOT get over the bio essentialism of it all

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's not that this book wasn't good - it just wasn't what I was hoping for. It's an academic analysis of various world religions - sort of like a comparative study - and how the lens of feminism can be applied to revolutionize or reject them in some cases. What I wanted was a collection of personal accounts on how women (and men) reconcile their own sense of feminism with their participation and belief in organized religion. So many feminists I know are what I would call fabulous Christians, but they do not identify as such, often b/c of the patriarchal ideals of Christianity. Anyhow, I skimmed through it but I just wasn't in the mood for an academic analysis.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

his book showed me that I'm not the only person to grow beyond a masculine god. The author included more religions than the usual Judaism and Christianity like Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism but didn't include the religions of Indigenous People.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The article on Buddhism by Rita Gross is awesome! Others I don't know because I don't know much about other religion. But Rita Gross' reflections on feminism and Buddhism are truly enlightening!

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this one. this book opened my eyes and introduced me to a range of new ideas; it actually inspired years of my research!