Research

In Intersectional Identities of Christian Women in the United States: Faith, Race, and Feminism, Amanda Hernandez explores the complex relationship between Christianity and feminism in the United States. Often, feminism and faith are seen as contradictory to each other. Through sociological analysis that includes content analysis, survey data, and interviews with over forty Christian women, the author argues this seeming contradiction is rooted in white supremacy. Further, she examines how whiteness, racism, and experiences of sexism shape feminist identities in religious contexts. By centering the experiences of Christian women, this study challenges existing narratives and calls for a more nuanced understanding, of feminism and faith in the United States.

"Amanda Hernandez’s ambitious and incisive volume demonstrates the immense value of integrating intersectional insights on race and gender into the study of religion. She draws on rich interview data from religious women of diverse backgrounds while also analyzing influential texts to shed new light on the connections between race, gender, and faith. As it turns out, faith and feminism are not incompatible, but their connections vary remarkably by race. Intersectional Identities of Christian Women in the United States breathes new life into ongoing discussions that are vital to understanding religious complexity today."

— John P. Bartkowski, University of Texas at San Antonio

"In this important book Amanda Hernadez takes on the myth that feminist and Christian are incompatible identities for American women. Using interviews, supplemented by national survey data, Hernandez shares the narratives of the complicated relationships many women encounter with bringing together feminism and religion in their lives. Central to her argument is an intersectional perspective. With the interview accounts, Hernandez shows how race affects these women’s experiences and perspectives and argues that women of color are much more likely than white women to bring these identities together in their lives. Hernandez presents a compelling critique of white feminism and white Christianity and the ways that they both support white supremacy. She unpacks the many ways that Christian women today talk about feminism, suggesting how intersectional feminisms that focus on structural change rather than individual choice can transform patriarchal religion. Hernandez’s passion for this transformation of feminism and Christianity informs her work. This book should be widely read; its approachable style lends itself to classroom use, and her thoughtful analysis advances how those who study religion understand intersectional processes."

— Mary Jo Neitz, University of Missouri

Contributed chapter with Sonia Valencia on Cherríe Moraga.

Can be purchased here.

"Neglected Social Theorists of Color: Deconstructing the Margins provides a novel contribution to the ongoing debates concerning the canon in contemporary sociological theory. In particular, the editors argue that many scholars whose work may hold significant potential for contributions to contemporary debates in social theory go unrecognized. Still others, while not completely ignored, have fallen victim to a cultural and political climate not receptive to their work. Feminist scholars have been in the forefront of these debates, arguing that many insightful social theorists have been marginalized because of their gender. More recently, studies of individual theorists of color have appeared, but these have been limited to African American scholars such as W.E.B. Du Bois. In the present text, the editors extend this approach to include a broad diversity of theorists of color, including those of African American, Afro-Caribbean, Latinx, Asian, Asian American, and Native American backgrounds. In addition, the editors also include the work of authors who come from academic fields outside of sociology and others who are journalists, activists, or independent writers. The work has a unique format, where the authors of each chapter provide a theoretical analysis of their subject and a discussion of the contemporary significance of their work, lending to a rich discussion of underappreciated sociological scholars."