Onde estão as mulheres na história das religiões? : um estudo da agência feminina a partir de a Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias.

Abstract

The participation of women in historical processes is a topic that has gained prominence in recent decades. Traditionally relegated to secondary roles and predominantly interpreted through a male perspective, women in Christian religions, especially after the Christianization of the West, were often considered unfit for direct access to God, leadership positions, and in some cases, were even excluded from historical records. Focusing specifically on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the "Mormon" church, a denomination that arrived in the Southern Brazil in the third decade of the 20th century, this research identified a little-recognized female figure in the denomination's history, Auguste Kulmann Lippelt, directing my attention not only to her but to other relevant women of this initial period of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The dissertation aims to analyze the living conditions of women between 1913 and 1935 within the researched religious institution during the period of its arrival in Brazil, through sources such as newspapers, institutional records, letters, photographs, and interviews. The analysis seeks to understand how the actions of these women influenced the implementation of this religious institution in the Brazilian context. By presenting an analysis of the social mechanisms of the time, we use Bourdieu to identify male dominance, and Scott to understand gender dynamics, specifically concerning the binary relationship between men and women. The research highlights how these factors shaped the relevance given to these women in this society. Finally, it emphasizes the marginalization and historical neglect of women in religious narratives, as noted by Perrot in her book "Women or the Silences in History." Thus, this work serves as an accessible historical record for those interested in deepening their understanding of the women who played significant roles in establishing their religious institution in their communities.