My Feminism
by Emilie Rommel
 

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Note: The Web sites listed below are just a starting point for your continued exploration of the Hot Topic. The contents of the links listed below, except those that are part of the ELCA or Women of the ELCA web sites, are not under the control of the ELCA or Women of the ELCA; they are the responsibility of the individual Web hosts.

Author's Web site suggestions:

Equal Opportunity Commission, UK. A comprehensive site of information, statistics, news, and campaigns… Especially check out the International Links page to see how discrimination affects women and men across the pond and around the world.

National Center for Education Statistics, 2003.

Women’s Voices. Women Vote.
The election may be over, but take a look at their fact sheet and numerous post-election surveys and results… you may be surprised.

United Nations Declaration of Universal Human Rights

The average salary gaps in earnings between men and women are listed here. See how your state measures up.

More Web sites of interest:

ELCA Social Statement “For Peace in God’s World.”

Celebrate the 35th year of ordination of women at Women of the ELCA’s Sixth Triennial Gathering in San Antonio, Texas July 5 –10.

The ELCA Commission for Women lists the original women since 1970  that have been ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The ELCA Commission for Women offers helpful resources on the topic of Anti-Sexism Education and Training for congregations.

Did you participate in any celebrations for Women’s History Month? This year’s theme, “Women Change America”, honors the roles of American women in transforming culture, history and politics. Learn more from the National Women’s History Project.

Find out how March was chosen as the month for celebrating Women’s History Month.

International Woman's Day on March 8, was the day set aside  to ensure that the celebration of women's history "include a multicultural perspective and international connection."

Tirzah, is a young women’s group formed to help strengthen the relationship between church leadership and young women.

The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) of the United Nations, "advocates the improvement of the status of women of the world."

“Women Working Together with Self Assurance and Passion” is how Being Jane, an on-line community, redefines feminism.

Do you know what an “Ecofeminist” is? You can learn about the terms and definitions that help describe different types of feminism.

Feminism Quotations put together by Jone Johnson Lewis, is an expansive list of quotes from a varying range of authors.

Third Wave Foundation is an organization that works to empower young women and "build a lasting foundation for social activism around the country."

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is one of the largest activist organizations working to promote equality for all women.

Articles

"Will Religion Complete the Women's Movement?" is an interview with the author of the book, Faith and Feminism: A Holy Alliance. In this interview, author Hellen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D., explains how faith and feminism are deeply related. Beliefnet, March 15, 2005.

"Young Women Meet in D.C., Create Own Movement", reports that the Younger Women Task Force, is focused on mobilizing young women to be more involved in advocacy and leadership.
Women's ENews, Feb. 3, 2005.

In "Christian, Jewish, Muslim: We Share Feminism"  three authors of three different faiths discuss how their faith “fits their feminism.” Women's ENews, Jan. 6, 2005.

Books

Faith and Feminism: A Holy Alliance by Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D., Atria Books, 2004.

The Web of Women’s Leadership: Recasting Congregational Ministry by Susan Willhauck and Jacqulyn Thorpe, Abingdon Press, 2001.

Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000.

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Works about faith and feminism are in the mainstream of seminary and scholarly studies. What follows are several of the classic books that have guided me on my journey and that remain foundations of knowing and questioning for me as a woman, Christian, and Lutheran pastor.

She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse by Elizabeth A Johnson, Crossroad, New York, 1992.
This book opens up the power of Sophia (Greek for wisdom) as an avenue for speaking about God as creator, as Christ, and as Spirit.

Sexism and God-Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology by Rosemary Radford Ruether, Beacon Press, Boston, 1983.
Ruether addresses definitions and norms for feminist theology, the centrality of women’s experience in dialogue with historical tradition, male and female images of the Divine, creation stories, anthropology, Christology, Mariology, ministry and eschatology.

But She Said: Feminist Practices of Biblical Interpretation by Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Beacon Press, Boston, 1992.
This book delves into scripture, deconstructing dominant and exclusive paradigms of interpretation and then reconstructs them in a way “that understands biblical texts and traditions as a living and changing heritage, one that does not legitimate patriarchal oppression but can foster emancipatory practices of faith-communities.” (p. 5) She is a challenging but extremely exciting and fruitful author.

Models for God: Theology for an Ecological, Nuclear Age by Sallie McFague, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, 1987.
Christian theologians have always understood names for God as symbols and metaphors pointing to a larger, but ultimately mysterious reality. McFague seeks to renew and expand the tradition of God-talk, and explores models for God like parent, lover, and friend. This is an imaginative and important work in the canon of feminist studies.

Feminist Theory and Christian Theology: Cartographies of Grace by Serene Jones, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 2000.
In this book, Jones weaves the best from secular feminist theory into the best of Christian theology, focusing especially on the centrality of grace. This is an especially fun book for Lutheran feminists!

Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion by Carol P. Christ and Judith Plaskow, Harper Collins, San Francisco, 1978.
A classic in feminist studies, this book shares the diverse writings of 20 scholars from various religious traditions. It is considered one of the best introductions to the field and its essay format makes it possible to read portions at a time.

God Beyond Gender: Feminist Christian God-Language by Gail Ramshaw, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 1995.
Ramshaw is a Lutheran professor of religion, and writes an important book for people who want and need to make choices about how we speak of God in Christian community and worship. This would be a great book for small group study within a congregation.

Web sites

The Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion is the premier scholarly journal for feminist scholars of religion and for those who really want to sink their teeth into a broad range of issues!

Evangelical and Ecumenical Women’s Caucus is filled with great resources for learning and web exploration. The group is comprised of women from diverse Christian backgrounds and fields of study and experience.