A famous ethnographer has argued that entering a text is like entering a community, and that reading is a responsible, skillful and critical act of interaction with culture. The question is, therefore, what kind of tools, sensibilities and knowledge one needs in order to “enter” what we might call “women’s community” in the Bible. In this course we will pay close attention to an in-depth study of language — semantics, etymologies, poetics and aesthetics and literary devices — with an eye toward uncovering the workings of the writing sacred texts and narratives. Ethnographic, interdisciplinary approaches to biblical narratives help us to further situate them within the wider cultural perspectives of gender and sexuality, and to reconstruct women’s roles within theological and ideological systems of meaning.

There are many ways to read the Bible and ways of reading and modes of interpretation have led to radically different constructions of women among various religious and ethnic groups and in diverse historical and geographical settings. In this course we will consider the burgeoning feminist literature and cultural productions about women such as Eve, Sara, Hagar, Miriam or Ruth in monotheistic traditions through names, language, fiction, poetry, ritual objects, folklore, music, and other cultural expressions. Key readings will draw on feminist theory, anthropology, psychology, sociology, or history of religions. Part of the resources for the class will include multi-media presentation of maps, time-lines, art and other visual images, film clips, or music.