Faithfully Feminist ― Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Feminists on Why We Stay

Why do you stay?” It is a common question women are asked in relation to their faith. These are not women who buy into Candace Cameron’s biblically submissive theory; rather, these are women who claim a feminist identity, have membership in a particular religious tradition, and practice their faith in spite of gendered challenges.

In Faithfully Feminist 15 Christian, 15 Jewish, and 15 Muslim women share their stories of struggle and faith.

In a world where women’s issues are political issues, women are judged for their positions in relation to their claimed identities. Feminists argue that you cannot be a true” feminist if you are a practicing Christian, Muslim, or Jew. Likewise, religious practitioners claim that you cannot be a true” Christian, Muslim, or Jew if you support feminist values. Nevertheless, women who practice these religious traditions and hold feminist values are not uncommon, and the question Why do you stay?” is one that is frequently asked of them.

Faithfully Feminist is the sharing of stories, encouraging other women, and acknowledging that being feminist doesn’t mean giving up on your faith.

Gina Messina-Dysert, Ph.D., is the dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Ursuline College. Gina is also a cofounder ofFeminism and Religion, the global online project. She is the author of Rape Culture and Spiritual Violence and lives in Pepper Pike, OH.

Jennifer Zobair is an attorney and a writer. She is the author of the novel,Painted Hands (St. Martin’s Press), and her essays on Muslim women and feminism have appeared in The Rumpus, The Huffington Post, The Feminist Wire, and elsewhere. She is a columnist for The Muslim Observer and is the founder of the websitestory and chai, a creative space for readers and writers of Muslim and culturally diverse narratives. Jennifer lives with her husband and three children outside of Washington, D.C.

Amy Levin is a Jewish feminist thinker, blogger, community organizer, and activist. Levin writes on the intersection of American religion, liberalism, and feminism. Her written work has been published on multiple platforms includingThe Revealer, Feminism and Religion, and Religious Freedom USA. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.