Paganism is experiencing its moment now and, alongside appearances in popular culture and a rise in adherents, this has meant an uptick in scholarship about this corner of the religious landscape. Shai Feraro’s Women and Gender Issues in British Paganism, 1945–1990 is a welcome addition to this development. It is one of the few historical analyses of the tradition to look at trends over a long period time while also taking a lived religions approach, focusing equally on the institution and individual. Feraro examines an array of data in each chapter, telling a story that includes characters and traditions explored from different directions.
Feraro’s focus on gender and women speaks to the heart of much debate in Pagan communities. The roles of the Goddess and priestess are seen as important innovations, while a focus on reified gender norms as a driving force in ritual creation and theology creates ongoing controversy....
University of California Press