Liberation Theologies Unit, Religions, Social Conflict, and Peace Unit and Women and Religion Unit

“Gender, Sexuality, and Protest: The Iranian Protests and Beyond," Co-sponsored by Liberation Theologies unit; Religion, Social Conflict, and Peace unit; Women and Religion unit, 

The 2022 protests in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the country’s ‘guidance control’ (or, ‘morality police’) represent a new experience in the voice of youth, especially women, in articulating religious and secular theories of resistance. Its practical and intellectual impact continues to be felt in Iran and globally, especially through the amplification of the Kurdish protest slogan “Women, Life, Freedom!”. This session is dedicated to understanding the dynamics of gender and sexuality in activism and political change. Proposals are encouraged that touch on the role of women in protest with regards to the movement in Iran and internationally, as well as gender, women and the public role of the religious/secular at large. Other possible areas include:

• Gender and sexuality as lens to think about protest, globally
• The relationship between protest and religion
• Non-oppositional ways of considering “loyalty” and “dissent”