Gender and Feminist Perspectives

Abstract

The field of feminist philosophy of religion employs gender and sex as fundamental categories of analysis that affect both the topics and methods of philosophy of religion. It seeks to expose both the sexism of mainstream philosophy of religion and to construct systems of thought that recognize women's full humanity and promote communal flourishing. With an eye to the emancipatory efficacy of their projects, feminist philosophers of religion take seriously the role of the body, social location, emotion, and desire in religious knowledge, belief, and practice. Their efforts engage various methodologies and perspectives, including psychoanalysis, poststructuralism, postmodernism, and deconstruction. Frequently amalgamating analytic and Continental approaches to philosophy, feminist philosophers of religion further work to expand the resources of philosophy of religion by going beyond the Western Christian tradition and its androcentric, dualistic views.

Promoting appetitive learning of consensual, empowered vulnerability: a contextual behavioral conceptualization of intimacy

“…Power is a central theme in feminist theory defined in a number of ways, including as a resource, as domination of others (i.e., “power-over”), and as empowerment to foster change (i.e., “power-to”; Allen, 2005 ). Contextual behavioral conceptualizations of power have also varied along similar themes.…”