Women's Caucus

2023 Women’s Caucus Call for Proposals

Session #1: Feminist Liberation Theologians and “La Labor de Nuestras Manos.”
In light of the 2023 AAR/SBL theme “La Labor de Nuestras Manos,” the Women’s Caucus, in collaboration with the Feminist Liberation Theologian’s Network (FLTN), invites papers investigating the intersection of women’s daily experiences and the academy. How does the hierarchical dualism between public and domestic spheres manifest today within the academic contexts? How has the scholarship of women of color studying minority religious traditions often been unseen and undervalued? We are particularly interested in papers exploring the factors that perpetuate stereotypes and create taboos around the worth of women’s scholarly works. What topics are shunned from academic discussions due to lingering patriarchal structures in the academy? How does the lack of engagement with topics such as childbearing, menopause, miscarriage, and motherhood contribute to economic injustices? 
Please note Women’s Caucus Session #1 in the proposal submission.

Session #2: Religion and the Work of Women’s Hands: Challenges and Solidarities
The AAR/SBL Women’s Caucus invites submissions from graduate students and early career scholars of any age to present innovative research asking fresh questions at the intersection of gender and religion in light of the conference theme “La Labor de Nuestras Manos.” (“The Labor of Our Hands”). Intersectional approaches incorporating class, race, ethnicity, gender, and/or sexuality are highly encouraged. Scholars may want to examine the dialectic between manual and academic labor. Respondents might analyze issues such as “women’s work,” maternal nurturing, agricultural labor, art, self-defense, “holding hands” in solidarity and collective action, sweatshop labor, child/eldercare, gardening, construction, or grocery store restocking within the framework of women and religion. How does religion construct such activities in ways that devalue, exalt, oppress or liberate them? Since the conference will be held in San Antonio, TX, proposals considering this location are particularly encouraged. 
Please note Women’s Caucus Session #2 in the proposal submission.

Session #3: New Books on Gender and Religion
The AAR/SBL Women’s Caucus invites proposals from scholars who have published books on gender and religion in 2022 and 2023. Authors will provide an overview of their books and share their research in theology, biblical studies, or religious studies, focusing on the intersection with gender, sexuality, and feminist and queer studies. These scholars will also share their experiences regarding strategies and mechanics for getting books on gender and religion published, make suggestions on how to overcome publication challenges in the guild, and offer advice to those seeking publication of their own book manuscripts.  Because these are published books, this is not blind submission. For your proposal, please reply with the book title, book blurb, publisher, and a copyright of 2022 or 2023, along with a short bio.
Please note Women’s Caucus Session #3 in the proposal submission.

Session #4: Unpacking African Women Theologians’ Decolonial Methodologies
This panel seeks to increase the biographical coverage of African women theologians who are noteworthy creators and innovators in the various fields of religion, spirituality, and religious activism. Women theologians on the African continent have addressed religious, environmental, socio-economic, political, health, gender equality, and other related issues that affect the African continent, yet traditional gender bias, economic status, domestic and occupational constraints, and racist, colonial, and class norms have obscured the noteworthy character of their lives and scholarly work. In order to appreciate and amplify the works of African women theologians, we seek proposals that contextualize issues of colonial bias and map how African women theologians overcome coloniality in their works.  African women’s activism and knowledge often employ storytelling and orality when engaging biblical, theological, historical, pastoral, and missiological perspectives on theology and ethics. Original research, including attention to primary sources such as interviews of living subjects, oral histories, transcriptions of existing recordings, and historical documents, is welcomed. Proposals must demonstrate strong analytical engagement with the challenge of intersectional issues related to coloniality and the decolonial advances towards an all-embracing and life-affirming theologies.
Please note Women’s Caucus Session #4 in the proposal submission.

Session #5: International Section, Women’s Caucus
The AAR/ SBL Women’s Caucus invites submissions from international scholars, particularly those residing outside of the United States, to present on the intersection of their work on women, gender, religion, and theology with the AAR’s Annual Conference Theme for 2023: “La Labor de Nuestras Manos.” We are particularly interested in research that raises fresh questions identifying phenomena that have been obstructed, peripheralized, othered, and/or not adequately explored; draws on theory and praxis; introduces perspectives from underrepresented religious and spiritual traditions and considers the ways that scholarship outside the US makes important contributions to the US academic discourses on “the labor of our hands.”
Please note Women’s Caucus Session #5 in the proposal submission.