14 - American Catholic Laywomen and Feminism

Summary

This chapter charts laywomen’s experiences within and contributions to Roman Catholicism in the United States from the late nineteenth century to the present, with particular focus on their relationship with and response to the broader women’s rights movement and modern feminism. It addresses the roles that women have played in building up the church and passing on the faith, while also recognizing the struggles they have faced in making their voices heard in an institution governed by patriarchal structures and attitudes. Three distinct eras in Catholic women’s history help illustrate their contributions: the Progressive era, roughly 1890–1920, with the building and flourishing of an organizational network of women’s organizations; the Vatican II era, 1960–1980, including the updating of the church through the Council, as well as the American feminist movement, and the controversy surrounding birth control; and finally, the present moment, 1990–2020, characterized by cultural challenges posed to religions by issues of gender identity and human rights.