The End of Religion: Feminist Reappraisals of the State

Feminist theory has improved the status and contributions of women, but it has yet to address how the assumption that religion is natural, timeless, universal, and omnipresent supports sexist and race-based oppression. This book proposes a radical new perspective on religion to better understand and confront systematic disempowerment of women and marginalized groups. It includes case studies on how religion is used to perpetuate male hegemony and racist inequities in Australia, Mexico, the United States, Britain, and Canada.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Feminist theory has played a pivotal role in amplifying and expanding the agency, influence, status, and contributions of women across the globe. Nevertheless, feminist critical analysis has yet to delve into the profound implications of the assumption that religion is inherently natural, timeless, universal, and omnipresent, which perpetuates sexist and race-based oppression. In response, this book presents a groundbreaking reimagining of religion, aimed at enhancing our understanding and addressing the systematic disempowerment of women and marginalized groups.

Drawing upon feminist and post-colonial frameworks of access, equity, and violence, the contributors employ recent critical theory to challenge the conventional boundaries between religion and secularity. Their objective is to comprehend religion as a technology of governance, encompassing its function, meaning, and historical trajectory.

The volume includes compelling case studies that shed light on how the category of religion is strategically deployed to perpetuate male hegemony and racist inequalities in various countries, including Australia, Mexico, the United States, Britain, and Canada. This trenchant feminist critique and academic analysis holds significant value for scholars and students specializing in Religion, Sociology, Political Science, and Gender Studies.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367609368