Ledarskap och genus i 1700-talets religiösa utbrytarrörelser: En jämförelse mellan John Wesley och Ann Lee

This thesis examines the gendered dynamics of religious leadership in the 18th century by comparing the leadership of John Wesley and Ann Lee, two prominent figures in the Methodist and Shaker movements, respectivly. Through a gendered and intersectional lens the study explores how Wesley, a man from privileged background, reinforced patriarcal structures within the Methodist movement, limiting women's leadership roles despite their significant contributions. In contrast, Ann Lee, as the leader of the Shakers, established a religious community that not only recognized woman as equals but also empowered them to hold theological and organizational authority. By analyzing their leadership within the context of their social backgrounds, religious ideologies, and gender norms, this thesis highlights how Wesley's and Lee's responses to gender and class sharped their movements' structures and theologial developments. The comparison reveals the varying degrees to which gender and class influenced the religious authority of men and woman in 18th-century religious movements, demonstrating the complex relationship between social structures and religous leadership during this period.