| CODE | GRS2006 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Gender, Sexuality and Religion | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Gender and Sexualities | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | As stated above, religion has historically attained a powerful structural and institutional position in social systems and is embedded in different cultural and social practices. In different social contexts, religion has traditionally set the norms of sexual morality and gendered expectations, in turn influencing public attitudes and socio-political decisions and legislation. Studies show that religion has played an important role in establishing heteronormativity that has been sealed in the religious ritual of heterosexual marriage in the main scripture religions. Within the local context, the Roman Catholic Church has had an enormous influence on different social and political institutions for centuries. However, over the past few years, it has become evident that there has been a decline in the influence of the Church both on an institutional and individual level in relation to gender and sexual relations. These past two decades have also witnessed an influx of migrants, inevitably giving rise to a multicultural context characterised by religious diversity. This study-unit focuses on the intersections of gender and sexuality with religion within a context of social change and globalisation. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit will examine issues of gender and sexuality within the Christian landscape: the variety of positions, the underlying principles and presuppositions, the main proponents and practical implications of these views. Additonally, it will examine the role of religion in shaping sexual morality and gender norms with reference to different religions. It will also explore the identity issues from a cross-cultural perspective and the role that religion plays for believers who seek change from within religious institutions and belief systems. The study-unit will also discuss the embodiment of religion as a cultural identity in the sexualised body as seen in gendered behaviour, dress, rituals and religious practice. Critical feminist thought and its engagement with religion will be discussed. Reference will be made to different feminisms emerging from within the five main scripture religions, new religions, feminist, and intersectional theologies. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognize the dual role of religion in both its institutionalised form and as a source of empowerment to people of faith struggling with issues of gender and sexuality. - Appreciate the continued importance of religion in the negotiation of one's sexual and gender identity within different cultural contexts. - Interpret the religious-secular dichotomy in relation to shifts in feminist thought about gender and sexuality. - Evaluate the impact of social change and globalisation on the relationship between religion, gender and sexuality. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply feminist epistemology to understand the intersection of religion, gender and sexuality. - Demonstrate how sexuality and gender intersect with religion in different cultural contexts. - Engage in critical discussions about the role of religion in relation to gender and sexuality within the context of a changing and globalised world. - Enhance their analytical and critical skills in reading and writing about the topic. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Page, S.J. & Shipley, H. (2020). Religion and Sexualities: Theories, Themes, and Methodologies. Oxon, UK: Routledge. - Bayes, J.H, Tohidi, N. (eds.) (2001). Globalization, Gender and Religion: The politics of women's rights in Catholic and Muslim Contexts, USA: Palgrave MacMillan Palgrave. - Crandall, B. (2011). Gender and Religion: The dark side of Scripture. New York, USA: Continuum. Supplementary Readings: - Abu-Lughod, L. (2002). ‘Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others’, American Anthropologist, New Series, 104 (3): 783-90. - Hoel, N., Wilcox, M.M., & Wilson, L. (2020). Religion, the Body, and Sexuality: An Introduction. UK: Routledge. - Ji-Sun Kim, G. & Shaw, S.M. (2018). Intersectional Theology: An Introductory Guide. Minneapolis, US: Fortress Press. - Klingorová, K. & Tomáš, H. (2015). ‘Religion and gender inequality: The status of women in the societies of world religions’, Moravian Geographical Reports, Vol.23 (2): 2-11. - Korte, A.M. (2009). Madonna’s crucifixion and the woman’s body in feminist theology. In: R.Buikema and I.van der Tuin, ed.2009. Doing Gender in Media, Art and Culture. Oxon, UK: Routledge. Ch.8. - Legerski, E. & Harker, A. (2017). ‘The Intersection of Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in Mormon Mixed-Sexuality Marriages’. Springer Science & Business Media, (78):482–500. - Mayson, C. (2004). ‘A New Re-Formation: Religion, the State and Gender’. Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, (61): 53-59. - Tharayil, M. (2014). ‘Shifting Paradigms: Gender and Sexuality Debates in Kerala’. Economic and Political Weekly, 49 (17): 70-78. - Woolfinstitute (2019, February 14). Faith and fashion - Embodiment, Gender and Religious Visibility [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNI7L1Ogs5Y. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Nathalie Grima Kevin Schembri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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