This course addresses the question why it is that religion, gender and sexuality often seem to be in a tense relation to one another. Issues of gender and religion appeal to deeply rooted convictions and deeply felt emotions among religious and non-religious alike. Current debates on, for instance, the prohibition of the headscarf in the public sphere, the membership of women in the Reformed Political party (Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij, SGP) and the obligation of religious civil servants to marry gay and lesbian couples show that religion has not, as has been assumed, disappeared from the public arena. On the contrary, religion is very much present and often seems to present itself (or is represented) through the scope of gender and sexuality. Often, debates concerning religion, gender and sexuality are strongly related to struggles over identity. What does it mean to be religious, secular, male, female, straight, gay, liberal, conservative, Dutch, European, etc., and how are these identities and belongings negotiated in the public arena, within religious communities and in individual private lives? In order to answer these questions, this course explores the ways in which gender and sexuality are employed in the study of religion (with a focus on Judaism, Christianity and Islam), from a range of disciplines (with an emphasis on religious studies/theology and the sociology/anthropology of religion), and from a range of critical perspectives, such as feminist, post-colonial, queer and post-secular theory. Students will learn to apply these perspectives to specific issues, challenges, transformations, and questions concerning gender and religion in our contemporary world.

The entrance requirements for Exchange Students will be checked by International Office and the Programme coördinator. Therefore, you do not have to contact the Programme coördinator yourself.