Celebration and Vision: <em>JFSR</em> as Collaborative Feminist Space

Abstract

Celebration and Vision:JFSR as Collaborative Feminist Space Kelsi Morrison-Atkins (bio) Before beginning my modest musings on the critical importance of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion on my work and that of so many others, I must offer a word of thanks and congratulations to all who have contributed to the life of this journal for the past thirty years. What an achievement! It is an understatement to say that JFSR has influenced my work. Indeed, my scholarship exists because of the pathbreaking work of those who established and sustain this journal and, for this, I could not be more grateful. [End Page 163] For the past two years, I have had the opportunity to work as managing coeditor for JFSR, a job that entails not only delightfully unbounded access to the print run of the journal but also the opportunity to engage with a community of scholars passionate about feminist studies in religion. Thus I focus my contribution to this roundtable on the bidirectional mentorship opportunities,1 both virtual and face-to-face, that JFSR has made possible for feminist scholars at all phases of their careers. Additionally, I want to suggest that creating more spaces for feminist scholars in religion to come together and celebrate one another’s work is central to ensuring the preservation of feminist scholarship, as well as providing ongoing opportunities to recognize those, such as founding editors Judith Plaskow and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, who have helped make possible the work I so often take for granted. Since I was an undergraduate, I have been supported, critiqued, and at times cajoled by feminist mentors invested in pushing me to pursue what drives me—even when doing so seems financially and intellectually implausible. In fact, I would never have applied to a master’s or PhD program were it not for these mentors pushing me continuously to reimagine the possible. Before I came to work for JFSR, it had not occurred to me that those feminist scholars in religion whom I admire and respect so much are actually open and excited to engage with newly minted feminist scholars and activists. The idea of writing an e-mail and reaching out to any wo/man on the list of editorial board members was unthinkable. Thus working with JFSR has shown me a great need to establish more opportunities for scholars in feminist studies in religion to feel welcome, not intimidated, in sharing their trials and successes with others who share similar experiences. JFSR has demonstrated to me the importance of connecting not only with what gets printed on the page but also with those who write it—those whose research challenges us intellectually and motivates us to continue the so-often frustrating work of feminist scholarship in religion. In the past few years, the Feminism in Religion Forum blog has been one such fruitful space in which feminist scholarship becomes both accessible, personal, and engaging and I applaud the interactive and innovative work bloggers manage to do in 750 words. What other such sites (pun intended) of engagement can we create? How might we make these interventions even more direct, without overextending already overextended schedules or losing the critical edge of our work? Because the structure of the university remains kyriarchal, even with women now the majority in many schools, we need bidirectional, mutually supportive [End Page 164] mentorship opportunities in feminist studies. Since many institutional spaces still do not encourage women to speak out, to express our critiques of the status quo, or even to engage feminist scholarship, it seems critical—even urgent—to provide opportunities to speak otherwise and encourage others to do the same. The JFSR provides that space for me—both the materials the journal publishes and the ability to engage with the women who make it happen. As I am just beginning my doctoral work this year, I cannot begin to imagine the meetings, the projects, and all of the various expectations that eat away at ever-dwindling time for oneself, family, and friends. Bearing respectfully all of these obligations in mind, I would encourage (perhaps even plead with) feminist scholars in religion to continue to make time...