Scroll down for detailed panel descriptions

8:30 - 9:00 Registration

9:00 - 9:15 Introduction to the Conference

9:15 - 10:30 Session I: Christianity and Fundamemtalism

10:30 - 11:00 Break

11:00 - 12:15 Session II: Feminism, Religion and Nation Building

12:30 - 1:15 Lunch

1:30 - 2:45: Session III: Feminism and Islam

2:45 - 3:15 Break

3:15 - 4:30 Session IV: Spirituality and Feminist Action

4:30 - 6:00 "Conviction" Screening and discussion with Sr. Jackie

6:00 Conference Wrap up with Song

Christianity and Fundamentalism

Coordinators:

This session will explore the historical, theological, and sociological underpinnings of Christian Fundamentalism in its development through the twentieth century and its current configuration. In addition, it will examine both the pitfalls and possibilities of the intersection between Christian Fundamentalism and feminisms.

Panelists: Michael Hamilton, Professor of History, who has written on women and Fundamentalism, and Jennifer McKinney Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the WS Program, who studies Christian Fundamentalism.

Spirituality and Feminist Activism

Coordinators:

Alka Arora and Jan Kinney (graduate students in Women Studies at University of Washington).

Session description: What is the relationship between spiritual work and political action? Is spirituality a retreat from activism, or is it an impetus and source of energy for work toward social justice? What issues or challenges do women face in bridging feminist and spiritual identities?

Panelists include:

Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Assistant Professor, Theology and Religious Studies;  Associate Professor, Environmental Studies, Seattle University

Jeannet Rodriguez, Professor, Theology and Women Studies, Seattle University

Feminism and Islam

Coordinator:  Karen Stuhldreher (Gender & Women Studies, North Seattle Community College)

Session Description:  This session will discuss the connections between Islam and feminisms.  What movements around gender are taking place within Islam?  What is Islamic feminism—its origins, possibilities, challenges?  How is the work of Muslim feminists perceived in the west?  Has September 11^th given voice and visibility to Muslim women?  What are Muslim women saying and with what impact?  How are Muslim women represented in the West and to what ends?  How can Western feminists better support feminist movements within Islam?  Short clips of the film Nazrah: A Muslim Woman's Perspective will be shown and the panelists will discuss responses to this film and their experiences making and presenting this and other films about Muslim women. 

Panelists:  Therese Saliba (Professor, Third World Feminist and Middle East Studies, Evergreen State College), Amal Eqeiq (Doctoral Student in Comparative Literature, University of Washington), Farah Nousheen (Undergraduate Student, Comparative History of Ideas, University of Washington)

Feminisms, Religion, and Nation-Building

Coordinator: David Allen (Women Studies, University of Washington).

Session description: How do feminisms help us analyze the various gendered alignments between religious institutions/traditions and efforts at nation-building? Where does gender analysis open up possibilities for progressive alignment among groups and institutions who want to imagine more just and compassionate representations of "nation"? How do feminist understandings of religions intersect with movements to resist nation-building programs?

Panelists: David Domke, University of Washington; Others TBA.