In the Doorway: Feminist Complaint Collectives in Australian Christianity (Tracy McEwan, Rosie Clare Shorter and Tanya Riches)

What happens when women speak up about gender inequality in Christian spaces? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Tracy McEwan, Dr. Rosie Clare Shorter, and Dr. Tanya Riches discuss their research on "feminist complaint collectives" across Catholic, Anglican, and Pentecostal traditions. Drawing on Sara Ahmed's work, they explore how women who raise concerns about sexism often "become the problem" in religious institutions, and how forming collectives can create pathways for change. From historical examples to contemporary activism, this episode offers insights for anyone navigating the complex intersection of faith and feminism.

Guests:

• Dr. Tracy McEwan is a theologian and sociologist of religion at the University of Newcastle and co-facilitates the Australian Women Preach podcast.
• Dr. Rosie Clare Shorter teaches gender studies at the University of Melbourne and is a research fellow at Deakin University.
• Dr. Tanya Riches is the director of the Master of Transformation and Development degree at Eastern College Australia.

Resources mentioned:

• "Feminist Complaint Collectives and Doorway Disruptions in Australian Christian Traditions" - the research paper discussed in the episode
• Sara Ahmed's book "Complaint!" and "The Feminist Killjoy Handbook"
• The Movement for the Ordination of Women (MOW)
• Australian Women Preach podcast

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