The Women’s Caucus, founded in 1971 by Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Carol Christ,  partnered with the AAR in creating cutting edge spaces for feminist-focused, intersectional scholarship. At the time other units were not accepting women's papers. Parity has yet to be reached for marginalized communities at the AAR. Worldwide, Cis, Trans and LGBTQ Plus people face physical attack, harassment and trauma personally and professionally. Worldwide feminist theology, gender and sexuality studies and their advocates endure threats, backlashes and cuts globally. Sadly, these same problems exist within the American Academy of Religion with the Women’s Lounge. By November 2025, AAR plans to eliminate the Women’s Lounge.

We urge the restoration and underwriting of the Women's Lounge at the AAR/SBL meetings, under whatever name the AAR chooses. This lounge has served as a vital hub fostering deep connections, providing a safe space for women, and underpinning many scholarly achievements over the years. 

Since its founding fifty years ago, the Women’s Caucus of AAR-SBL has maintained a cutting edge and inclusive space for feminist-focused, intersectional scholarship from undercovered regions of the world. We have supported oppressed and colonized peoples and helped them gain the confidence to enter patriarchal and competitive spaces academic spaces.The Women’s Caucus is the trusted community identified with the Lounge that receives harassment claims and  nurtures the full development of scholars from health, food, housing and safety needs while navigating conference spaces. Scholarly and professional advancement often begins with academic panels in the Lounge. Many people nurtured in our Lounge have gone on to head other sections of the academy, secure professional positions, become public scholars and activists, and secure multiple publications. Please use the QR code to sign this petition.