Sexuality, Religion, and Politics

Over the last several decades, conservative, politicized religious movements have proliferated around the world, successfully resisting secularist establishments and “liberal” culture, and mobilizing to re-impose various forms of patriarchal order. The trend is apparent across the globe, from the backlash over feminism and sexual liberation in the United States to the potentially schismatic revolt in the Anglican church by the conservative evangelical hierarchy in Africa to the rise of patriarchal, nationalistic “fundamentalisms” surrounding the practice of Hinduism, Judaism and Islam. In conjunction with the The CUNY Graduate Center’s Center for the Study of Culture, Technology and Work, and Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies, BCRW offers a conference to investigate the role of gender and sexuality within these religious movements as they position themselves variously in resistance to secularism and colonialism.

Among the scholars who will examine these dynamics in different global contexts are Lila Abu-Lughod, M. Jacqui Alexander, Paola Bacchetta, Ann Burlein, Patricia Clough, Lawrence Cohen, Tanya Erzen, Janet Jakobsen, Laura Levitt, Minoo Moallem, Afsaneh Najmabadi, and David Harrington Watt.

For program details and additional information please visit the CUNY Graduate Center website.