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CS92PROD
Gender and Spirituality in the United States
RELI 210
Spring 2025
Section: 01  
Crosslisting: FGSS 232

Reclaim your goddess energy. Worship at the altar within. Celebrate your moon cycle. Good vibes only. Messages like these invite women to sanctify themselves, find meaning in the workings of their bodies, and connect to supreme natural forces. They also have powered spiritual and political movements over the past 70 years. While we might we be inclined to relegate an interest in astrology, crystals, aromatherapy, yoga, or reiki to the realm of hobbies or health practices, this course will instead provide a more nuanced view. We will learn the historical and religious contexts of contemporary American spiritualities, particularly as they have been practiced by and marketed to women. We will answer questions such as: How different is spirituality from religion? Why has spiritual practice been commodified and gendered feminine since the New Age era of the 1960s? How has women's spirituality reflected changing ideals of womanhood and the feminine over time? Throughout the class, we will read and listen to popular spiritual content and contextualize it within broader struggles over identity, sexuality, and feminism. In particular, we will interrogate issues of religious appropriation and consider the effects of contemporary movements on the communities who have cultivated sacred practices for centuries.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS RELI
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Student Option
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Requirement for: None
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available

Last Updated on OCT-31-2024
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