[Discussion] Gender Studies in Jewish Studies and Islamic Studies

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

Dartmouth Summer Institute on
Gender Studies in Jewish Studies and Islamic Studies
Location: New Hampshire, United States

Thanks to a grant from the Ford Foundation, a Summer Institute on Gender=20
Studies
in Jewish Studies and Islamic Studies will take place August 7-10, 2005,=20
Sunday
afternoon to Wednesday noon, at Dartmouth College. No formal papers will =
be
delivered; rather, several brief, informal presentations will be made to
encourage group discussion. Space is limited and the Institute is open by
application to faculty and graduate students who work in fields related t=
o
Jewish Studies and/or Islamic Studies and who have background in gender=20
studies.
The Institute will focus on issues of gender as they inform and enhance=20
a range
of disciplines and topics in the study of Judaism and Jewish history,=20
Islam and
Islamicate culture and history. The goal will be to considers ways that=20
scholars
in Jewish Studies who work on issues related to gender might develop both
scholarly and collegial interactions with feminist scholars of Islam. It =
is
hoped that participants will include historians, anthropologists, politic=
al
theorists, scholars of religion, literature, and culture, among other
isciplines, and that their interests will include a range of time=20
periods and
geographic locations. Graduate students and junior faculty are particular=
ly
encouraged to participate.

As fields that are rapidly emerging as central to the academy, both Jewis=
h
Studies and Islamic Studies are reconceptualizing the scope and nature=20
of their
work, and even the name of their disciplines. Those with an interest in=20
gender
are often challenging the narrow conceptualizations of their fields,=20
insisting
not only on the inclusion of women, but the consideration of how other=20
elements
? such nationalism and religion ? are gendered. The expansion of Jewish=20
Studies
and Islamic Studies to include more than the male-authored textual=20
traditions of
the two religions will be among the topics that will be considered.=20
Others will
include ways in which the history of American Jews and American Muslims=20
might be
considered in tandem; how the nationalisms of the Middle East inform one
another; how the revival of women?s orthodox religiosity, both Jewish and
Muslim, might best be understood; how a variety of feminist hermeneutics =
are
being brought to bear in interpreting the religious texts of both=20
Judaism and
Islam. How gender is reconfigured by poststructuralism, identity politics=
,
multiculturalism, and postcolonial theory will also be addressed.

We will also discuss current popular and politicized stereotypes regardin=
g
Muslim and Jewish women and how they might be analyzed. When Jews sought
political emancipation in Europe in the nineteenth century, they were oft=
en
faulted for treating their women as inferior; similar charges are afoot=20
today
regarding Muslim women. How we might respond to such charges will also be
considered.

One session will be devoted to presentations by feminist theorists,=20
describing a
range of new developments in their fields, which will include=20
philosophy, visual
culture, literature, film studies, photography, and psychoanalytic=20
theory. Among
confirmed speakers are Marianne Hirsch, Angela Rosenthal, Amy Allen, and=20
Jessica
Benjamin.

Finally, in addition to considering various scholarly projects we might
undertake together, theoretical and methodological parallels in our=20
work, and so
forth, we will also discuss issues of pedagogy ? the challenges we face=20
in our
undergraduate classrooms ? and professional development ? the=20
expectations and
demands from colleagues, administration, donors, and wider communities=20
of Jews
and Muslims.

Participants in the Institute will be housed in private rooms in a modern=
,
air-conditioned dormitory on the Dartmouth campus. There will be no=20
charge for
lodging, breakfast, and dinner for participants; lunch can be purchased o=
n
campus at minimal cost. Kosher and halal food will be available, as will
vegetarian options, but you must request them ahead of time. Daycare for
children will not be provided, but the names of babysitters will be provi=
ded
upon request. Facilities at Dartmouth are accessible.

Travel expenses for participants will be paid. Dartmouth can be reached v=
ia
plane to Lebanon, NH, Manchester, NH, Bradley Field, CT, Burlington, VT, =
or
Boston; bus service is sometimes available from those airports. A bus lea=
ves
Logan Field and South Station, Boston, every two hours for the Dartmouth=20
campus.
Participants are expected to make their own travel arrangements. Because=20
space
is limited, it is important to apply early, not withdraw at the last=20
minute, and
to remain at the Institute for its duration.

Applications to participate in the Institute should be received via=20
email by May
1, 2005, and should include a CV and a letter explaining the reasons for=20
wishing
to participate, as well as a brief description of research and teaching
experience and future plans as they relate to the topic. Space in the=20
institute
will be assigned on a first-come basis, but with attention to developing =
a
balance of graduate students, junior and senior faculty. Applicants will =
be
notified by May 15. Any questions and all applications should be directed=
 to
Prof. Susannah Heschel (e-mail address provided below)

Additional information about the Institute will be posted at the=20
following web
site.


Professor Susannah Heschel
Department of Religion
Dartmouth College
HB 6036
Hanover, NH 03755


Email: susannah.heschel@dartmouth.edu
Visit the website at
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~religion/faculty/jwst-institute.html