Date of Award

4-18-2011

Document Type

Research Paper

Department

Whittier Scholars Program

First Advisor

Joe Price

Second Advisor

Rosemary Carbine

Abstract

This project discusses how American young women in different Christian denominations inherit and adopt certain value systems, with regard to feminism and reactions, or backlash, to feminism. This study examines both the correlation and tension between feminist values and conservative (or anti-) feminist values, both of which find ties to Christian values, and discusses how two seemingly opposing views can be grounded in one faith. This project focuses on Mormon and Roman Catholic involvement in feminism movements as well as creates and uses a literature review of feminist theologies in both churches. This study includes examination of the history of U.S. feminist movements and the history of Roman Catholic and Mormon reactions to feminism to examine some relationships between Christian feminism and Christian feminist backlash. This project includes data collected through eight interviews with four Mormon and four Catholic young women, ages 18-25, about their approaches to feminism, investigating how young women are dealing with this relationship in their churches and speculates about the future of these religions in regard to feminism. This study examines how Christian values, specifically Catholic and Mormon values, support both feminism and backlash to feminism, and to what effect this relationship has on the future of youth of these two churches.

Comments

WSP Major: Moral and Ethical Development of Societies

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