Hail Mary? - The Struggle for Ultimate Womanhood in

Hail Mary? examines the sexist and misogynist themes that underlie the socially constructed religious imagery of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Maurice Hamington explores the sources for three prominent Marian images: Mary as the "the blessed Virgin," Mary, the "Mediatrix"; and Mary, "the second Eve." Hamington critiques these images for the valorization of sexist forces with the Catholic Church that serve to maintain systems of oppression against women. In challenging dominant, religious representations of Mary, Hamington surveys a variety of emerging reinterpretations of Mary. He then provides a framework for further study of "non-alienating" images of Mary.

List of contents

Introduction; Chapter 1 The History and Social Construction of Mary; Chapter 2 The Struggle to Control Mary; Chapter 3 Catholic Sexual Morality and the Blessed Virgin Mary; Chapter 4 Mary, the Mediatrix and Asymmetrical Gender Power; Chapter 5 Women and Evil / Mary and Eve; Chapter 6 The Recasting of Marian Imagery;

About the author

Maurice Hamington, Oregon State University

Summary

Hail Mary illustrates how Mary is central to the Church's moral control over Catholic women and therefore pivotal in any movement for change. It examines the struggle to control Mary's image and proposes a stronger and more independent one.

Product details

• Authors: Maurice Hamington, Hamington Maurice
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 20.09.1995
• EAN: 9780415913041
• ISBN: 978-0-415-91304-1
• No. of pages: 224
• Weight: 420 g
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / General, RELIGION / Christian Theology / General, RELIGION / Christianity / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Feminism & Feminist Theory, RELIGION / Sexuality & Gender Studies, Religion: general, Theology, Christianity, Christian theology, Feminism and feminist theory, RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic / General