HomeReligion and gender in Latin America

Religion and gender in Latin America

Religion et genre en Amérique latine

Religión y género en América Latina

Religião e gênero na América Latina

Theoretical and methodological perspectives for research

Perspectives théoriques et méthodologiques pour la recherche

Perspectiva teórico-metodológicas para la investigación

Perspectivas teórico-metodológicas para pesquisa

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Published on Tuesday, January 05, 2021

Abstract

This dossier invites researchers to submit papers discussing the theoretical and methodological challenges and limits facing new research questions in order to address the interfaces between religion and gender in Latin American countries in light of changes in the social and religious field in recent decades. We welcome works produced from different areas of knowledge in the social and human sciences, as well as areas and studies at the intersection of these issues. We set out to encourage reflection on the ethical challenges faced by researchers regarding the new theoretical and methodological models used in our region and beyond.

Announcement

Argument

Signs of significant religious change in Latin America can be seen in the growth of pluralism and religious traffic, like conversions to Islam, Judaisms and Buddhisms, the proliferation of forms of religiosity and spirituality associated with New Age and therapeutic communities, or the upsurge in less institutionalized forms of religious experience. This change is accompanied by greater religious participation in the public sphere and the increasingly frequent use by religious groups of mass and digital media.

The gender debate is of particular significance in this context, bringing together a broad range of religious agents working in churches, the media and the public sphere to defend moralities and worldviews that articulate such ideas as ‘defence of the family’, heteronormative patterns and ‘pro-life’ policies.

Other forms of conservatism geared to maintaining political and economic power are also in evidence. These are (primarily Christian) religious groups and leaders working in the public sphere, who seek to subordinate countries’ public policies and legislation to doctrinal religious principles. They especially focus on regulating policies around sexuality and reproduction – notably abortion, as we see in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Colombia – and to uphold the heteronormative and patriarchal family. Also, on the rise is action against sex education in schools and bills aimed at banning what these groups term ‘ideology’, as a way of discrediting studies and debates around gender issues.

Such action is an obstacle to policies promoting gender equity and recognition of the rights of the LGBTQIA+ population. It also represents a questioning of and attack on feminist theories and the agents leading these struggles for recognition and inclusion which have gained ground on the continent in recent decades. The achievements they had secured are now under threat.

Confrontations in the public sphere present not just religious arguments, but the increasing use by religious agents of scientific arguments, such as the biologising of conceptions of human nature and social order, and also of the language of rights. This asserts their right to participate in the public sphere as groups committed to religion.

Furthermore, old religious conceptions are maintained and new ones emerge to defend minorities and respect for gender issues: inclusive churches, feminist theologies, queer theology, black theologies and others add to traditional Latin American theologies, like liberation theology. Such changes spur researchers to imagine new alternative research questions and to construct innovative theoretical and methodological concepts to analyse Latin American gender and religious issues that also take account of intersectional perspectives.

This dossier invites researchers to submit papers discussing the theoretical and methodological challenges and limits facing new research questions in order to address the interfaces between religion and gender in Latin American countries in light of changes in the social and religious field in recent decades. We welcome works produced from different areas of knowledge in the social and human sciences, as well as areas and studies at the intersection of these issues.

We set out to encourage reflection on the ethical challenges faced by researchers regarding the new theoretical and methodological models used in our region and beyond.

Submission guidelines

Reception date: until December 1, 2020.

The articles will be original and unpublished.

8,000 to 10,000 words.

Submit by OJS: https://www.descentrada.fahce.unlp.edu.ar/user/register

Contacts to: decentrada.revista@gmail.com

Editors

  • Olívia Bandeira (LAR-Unicamp / GREPO - PUC-SP)
  • Mari-Sol García Somoza (Canthel – Université de Paris / Universidad de Buenos Aires / Inalco)
  • Sandra Mazo (CDD-Colombia)

Places

  • La Plata, Argentina

Date(s)

  • Tuesday, December 01, 2020

Keywords

  • gender, religion, methodologie, feminism

Contact(s)

  • Mari Sol Garcia Somoza
    courriel : marisolgarciasomoza [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Revista interdisciplinaria de feminismos y género Descentrada
    courriel : decentrada [dot] revista [at] gmail [dot] com

Information source

  • Mari-Sol García Somoza
    courriel : marisolgarciasomoza [at] gmail [dot] com

License

CC0-1.0 This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.

To cite this announcement

« Religion and gender in Latin America », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Tuesday, January 05, 2021, https://doi.org/10.58079/15qb

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