Stained Glass Ceilings: How Evangelicals Do Gender and Practice Power

Stained Glass Ceilings explores the intersection of gender and power in American evangelicalism by examining the formation of evangelical leaders in two seminary communities. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary emphasizes gender differentiation and male headship, while Asbury Theological Seminary promotes gender-blind equality. However, the institutions' construction of egalitarianism obscures the fact that women are rewarded for adapting to an existing male-centered status quo.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 14 October 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Stained Glass Ceilings delves into the intricate intersection of gender and power within American evangelicalism, shedding light on the formation of evangelical leaders within two seminary communities. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, known for its commitment to gender differentiation and male headship, fosters a vision of human flourishing through these principles. Men are taught to embrace "Godly Manhood," assuming leadership roles within their families and communities. At the same time, their wives are socialized into codes of "Godly Womanhood," emphasizing prescribed gender roles and responsibilities. This power structure grants men privileges but also provides them with agency within women-centered spaces and through marital relationships.

On the other hand, Asbury Theological Seminary presents itself as a bastion of freedom from gendered hierarchies. Drawing upon a narrative of gender-blind equality, Asbury welcomes women into classrooms, administrative offices, and pulpits. However, the institution's construction of egalitarianism obscures the reality that women are often rewarded for adapting to an existing male-centered status quo rather than for developing their unique voices as women. The documentary features prominent evangelicals like Al Mohler and Owen Strachan, alongside emerging seminarians poised to shape the future of the movement. Through their insights and experiences, Stained Glass Ceilings highlights the limitations of white evangelical toolkits and argues that evangelical culture perpetuates male-centered power structures, even as it fosters meaning and identity.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978820005