The Metaphor of Gender

“In The Wizard’s Illusion, Katherine Abetz explored what it means for woman to be made ‘in the image of God,’ engaging with Sallie McFague’s Metaphorical Theology. The Metaphor of Gender focuses on the ‘metaphor of gender’ itself. The conversation with others is open, intense, and engaging, from Dorothy L. Sayers and Janet Martin Soskice through Rosemary Radford Ruether, Luce Irigaray to Daphne Hampson—and men worth reading. The Metaphor of Gender will stimulate anyone exploring seriously what it means to be human as female and male.”


—Charles Sherlock, former lecturer, Trinity College Theological School, Melbourne





“Katherine Abetz has written a groundbreakingly significant book for those seeking to understand women’s identity, especially concerning the imago Dei. The book is exquisite, whimsically weaving together the Wizard of Oz with feminist writers, theologians, and biblical narratives. Katherine digs deeply, encouraging feminist writers to beware of self-creation traps in the poppy field and to return to the Yellow Brick Road, where they might discover a narrative identity birthed from historical belonging, including with the Divine.”


—Anne Hibbard, minister, Southern Cross Online Worship, Diocese of the Southern Cross