September 26, 2016
Feminist theologian Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, writing for the Feminist Studies in Religion Blog, says “the rhetoric of the Bible still shapes our religious and political imagination and the American political discourse.” One of the results is the “gender bias built into the presidential election process.” She shows how Hillary Clinton is caught in a double bind. If she fulfills many of the cultural ideals for a woman’s speech and actions, Clinton faces the difficulty of attempting at the same time to fulfill cultural expectations for the speech and actions of an effective leader. And if she displays the characteristics required for effective leadership, she is criticized for violating the societal qualities expected of her as a woman. Schüssler Fiorenza explains that “the cultural roots of this ‘double bind’ are found in Christian Scriptures and traditions.”
Take some time to see what she means. Read Schüssler Fiorenza’s blog post, “Does Hillary Fail to Connect Emotionally?”
