2c. Choose one of your sources. Write a short bio of your source's author--300 words. Now write it in 100 words. Now write it in 50 words. 50 words: Chelsea Shields is a Biological and Cultural Anthropologist whose is well known for her activism for gender equality within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has spoken on this and other topics at TED conferences, universities, podcasts, and seminars held by organizations working towards a similar goal.
100 words “How do we respect someone's religious beliefs while still holding them accountable for the harm or damage that those beliefs may cause others?” This is the question that is at the core of Chelsea Shield’s activism to promote gender equality in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Chelsea Shields is a Biological and Cultural Anthropologist whose is well known for her activism for gender equality within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has spoken on this and other topics at TED conferences, universities, podcasts, and has co-founded several organizations that are working towards a similar goal.
300 words Chelsea Shields grew up in an orthodox LDS family in Utah. Even at a young age, Chelsea knew that she could do anything that the boys could do. She could play basketball. She could become the President of the United States. However, at that time she was still blind to the inequality that existed in her church. She said, “I never accepted being excluded because I was a woman, except in my religion”. Years later Chelsea started to open her eyes to the unfairness that was happening around her and started to work towards change.
She received her PhD in Biological and Cultural Anthropology from Boston University. She also co-founded several groups focused on increasing the voice of women in the church. These groups include: Mormons for ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), Ordain Women, and LDS WAVE: Women Advocating for Voice and Equality. She has also worked with other groups and publications such as Exponent II Blog and Magazine, The Mormon Women’s Roundtable, The F-Word: A Documentary of Mormon Feminism.
Throughout her journey of activism, many people questioned why she chose to stay in the church. She said, “I can’t tell you the hundreds of people who have said, ‘If you don’t like religion, just leave. Why would you try to change it?’” To that her response was, “Because what is taught on the Sabbath leaks into our politics, our health policy, violence around the world. It leaks into education, military, fiscal decision-making”.
Even though her world-view has changed since she was a child, she still believes that this conversation can only progress with mutual respect. She says, “We need to reclaim morality in a secular context that creates ethical scrutiny and accountability for religions all around the world, but we need to do it in a respectful way that breeds cooperation and not extremism.” It is a fine line to walk, but Chelsea and many others are working to make this change in the society of the church.