Asbury University to Host Renowned Scholar for “Genesis of Gender” Lecture

January 16, 2025

On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Asbury University’s Honors Program (AUHP) will welcome Dr. Abigail Favale to campus for a thought-provoking lecture on contemporary and Christian perspectives of gender. The event, titled “The Genesis of Gender,” will be held at 7 p.m. in the Shaw CLC Luce Auditorium and is open to the public.

Favale’s lecture will explore the two predominant understandings of gender in today’s culture, examining how they align or diverge from Christian scripture and theology. Her presentation promises to provide insightful perspectives on how Christian teachings uniquely contribute to an appreciation for the dignity and meaning of gendered embodiment.

“The AUHP is excited to welcome Dr. Abigail Favale to campus,” said AUHP Director Dr. Paul Nesselroade. “Her topic of research explored in her recent publication, ‘The Genesis of Gender’ has appeared at a critical moment in our ongoing cultural discussion about identity. Dr. Favale shows us how the Christian scriptures and historic Christian theology uniquely help us to gain an appropriate perspective on and appreciation for our gendered embodiment. Additionally, her book and her presentation will assist people who are seeking to learn how to better come alongside and accompany those who struggle with embodiment issues.”

Favale, a distinguished writer and professor, specializes in the intersection of Catholic theology, literature, and women’s studies. Her work delves deeply into the meaning and dignity of womanhood, with a focus on sexual difference and embodiment through a Catholic lens. She holds a concurrent appointment in the Department of Theology and contributes to the McGrath Institute for Church Life (MICL), where she writes and teaches on topics such as feminism, gender, and the theology of Edith Stein.

Her most recent book, “The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory”, published in 2022 by Ignatius Press, has already gained international recognition and been translated into multiple languages. Favale’s essays have appeared in esteemed publications including The Atlantic, First Things, and Comment. Beyond her academic work, she is an accomplished fiction writer and recipient of the J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction.

Like other AUHP events, this event offers a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to engage with a leading voice in the dialogue surrounding gender, faith, and identity. The AUHP program focuses on the concept of human value, dignity, and the virtuous life.