Feminization Thesis: A Survey of International Historiography and a Probing of Belgian Grounds

Abstract

The feminisation thesis reinforces a gendered perspective in the study of Christianity and thereby offers an opportunity to step away from an androcentric point of view that has dominated the bulk of religious history. However, this feminisation thesis carries in its formulation the potential of a new imbalance- a sole focus on women and femininity- which has to be avoided. More recent research that pays attention to (or even focuses solely on) Christian men nuances a simplified assessment of ‘feminisation’ and points at tendency of this thesis to evolve in a container concept. A strict definition of the term remains necessary in order to avoid a simplified polarisation between ‘men’ and ‘women’; ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’, too strict a definition of religiosity and an uncritical preclusion of Christian masculinity. Up till now, the feminisation thesis has not played a very important part in research on Belgian Catholicism. However, various studies might be linked to the different aspects of this thesis and thereby offer preliminary components of a Belgian narrative of ‘feminisation’.