The vagina dialogues essentialist and constructionist views of female sexuality in contemporary feminist theology

This thesis involves close readings of both essentialist and constructionist theological views of female sexuality, specifically in regards to reproduction. In particular the philosophies of the female body in the writings of essentialist theologian Elizabeth Fox-Genovese and constructionist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether are explored and analyzed. This thesis seeks to uncover new understandings of sexual freedom for women by examining both essentialist and constructionist views of female sexuality within contemporary feminist theology based on the various reactions to the Church\u27s teachings on reproduction and emerging feminist philosophy of gender