Our Bodies, Our Selves? by Jane Barter Moulaison

This Book attempts to address the prevalent celebration of embodiment in feminist discourse, particularly in feminist theology. It will first introduce key concepts in feminist theology and the use of the body, starting with the “second-wave” body theologies of Carter Heyward and Beverly Harrison. The author then examines postmodern feminist challenges to the essentialized body, looking at the “subversive body” in “third-wave” or postmodern feminism. Finally, the article moves toward an alternative understanding of the body’s importance through considering Christian bodily practices, which allows reflection on what it means to become a specifically Christian body through church practices. The author intends to use this alternative to address feminist concerns about the subjugation of women’s bodies in the church and find critical and emancipatory resources within the Christian tradition itself.