FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND BUSINESS STUDIES Department of Humanities Be Part of the Solution Gender Sensitivity in Confirmation Work Johanna Rostek 2021 Student thesis, Master degree (two years), 30 HE Religious Studies Master Programme in Religious Studies Supervisor: Ann-Kristin Eriksson Examiner: Jari Ristiniemi Abstract The following research explores female authority's experiences with gender roles in faith and church and the subsequent handling of gender sensitivity in confirmation work. The qualitative study is conducted based on empirical data to answer the research questions. The chosen feminist standpoint theory assists in identifying the sampling consisting of female authorities as participants who are in charge of the confirmation work. The theory examines resources to create a standpoint through feminist experiences as knowledge, creating feminist solidarity and agency. The constructionist thematic analysis identifies and establishes repeating patterns in combination with the participant's answers and the theory. The lived experiences are gathered through online questionnaires and analyzed and interpreted through the lens of the feminist standpoint theory. The qualitative study shows that women make various experiences based on gender roles in faith and church. Majorly challenging is the normalization of male-dominated structures and concepts. Still, the participants form standpoints concerning the significance of gender-sensitive confirmation work. The study's outcome shows that mainstream knowledge can be opposed by creating feminist knowledge, solidarity, and agency. A broad audience is addressed because the result can be generalized into several fields. Keywords: Gender Roles, Gender Sensitivity, Protestant Lutheran Church, Confirmation Work, Knowledge Production, Feminist Standpoint Theory 1 Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1 Rationale............................................................................................................................ 4 1.1 Research Aim .............................................................................................................. 7 1.2 Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Keywords .................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Sex........................................................................................................................ 8 1.3.2 Gender .................................................................................................................. 8 1.3.3 Gender Sensitivity ................................................................................................ 9 1.3.4 Gender-Wise Correct Language .......................................................................... 9 2 Background ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Reformation ............................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Enlightenment ........................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Pietism ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.4 Protestant Lutheran Church in Germany Today ....................................................... 15 2.5 Confirmation Work in a Northern German Context ................................................. 17 2.6 Gender Studies and Religious Studies ...................................................................... 19 2.6.1 Women in Christianity ....................................................................................... 19 2.6.2 Feminism............................................................................................................ 21 2.6.3 Feminism in Religion ......................................................................................... 22 2.6.4 Feminist Theology ............................................................................................. 23 3 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................................. 24 3.1 Feminist Standpoint Theory ...................................................................................... 25 3.1.1 Feminist Knowledge .......................................................................................... 28 3.1.2 Feminist Solidarity ............................................................................................. 30 3.1.3 Agency ............................................................................................................... 30 4 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 32 4.1 Method ...................................................................................................................... 32 4.2 Research Design ........................................................................................................ 32 4.3 Sampling.................................................................................................................... 33 4.4 Data Collection and Analysis .................................................................................... 34 4.5 Tools and Material .................................................................................................... 37 4.6 Discipline .................................................................................................................. 38 5 Ethical Considerations .................................................................................................... 38 5.1 Worthy Topic ............................................................................................................ 38 5.2 Rich Rigor ................................................................................................................. 39 5.3 Sincerity .................................................................................................................... 39 5.4 Credibility.................................................................................................................. 40 5.5 Resonance.................................................................................................................. 41 5.6 Significant Contribution ............................................................................................ 41 5.7 Ethical Research Practice .......................................................................................... 41 5.8 Meaningful Coherence .............................................................................................. 42 6 Time Frame ..................................................................................................................... 42 7 Literature Review ............................................................................................................ 43 7.1 Confirmation Work ................................................................................................... 43 2 7.2 Feminist and Religious Studies ................................................................................. 44 7.3 Knowledge Production .............................................................................................. 45 7.4 Theory ....................................................................................................................... 45 8 Discussion and Analysis ................................................................................................. 46 8.1 Gender roles in the Church and Faith........................................................................ 47 8.1.1 Alleged Gender Roles in the Church ................................................................. 47 8.1.2 Alleged Gender Roles in Faith ........................................................................... 51 8.2 Resulting Handling of Gender Sensitivity in Confirmation Work ............................ 55 8.2.1 Role Models ....................................................................................................... 55 8.2.2 Language is Power ............................................................................................. 62 8.2.3 Association .............................................................................................................. 67 9 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 72 10 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 78 11 Appendix .......................................................................................................................... 84 11.1 Questionnaire ............................................................................................................ 84 11.2 Email ......................................................................................................................... 86 11.3 Consent Form ............................................................................................................ 87 3 1 Rationale Inequality,