Hilary Jerome ScarsellaWelcome
Hi, I’m Hilary.
I’m a scholar, writer, educator, and advocate. I study religion, gender, trauma, society, and my specialization is in what these together have to do with sexual violence. I try to understand how religion goes wrong, imagine new ways for it to go right, and create strategies for stopping sexual violence in the process.
I write, teach courses, lead workshops, and create resources designed to help communities do this work together. I’ve long been a direct advocate for survivors of abuse in religious contexts, and I carry that hat into every conversation I enter.
I’m also fully incapable of sticking to one area of interest. If you get to know me, you’ll find plants, beauty, spirituality, grief, politics, tiny kiddos, and who knows what else seeping in around the edges.
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Learn with Me
Resources
Read or download any of my educational resources. You’re welcome to use these for noncommercial purposes as long as you keep my name on them and give attribution.
Publications
Download any of my open access publications and find links to the rest. If you’d like to read a piece that is behind a paywall, send me a message. I can’t put these up on the website, but I’m free to share copies with individuals.
Make a Request
I’m always working on new material. If there is a publication, resource, or something else you’d find useful, let me know!
Psst. You can get my newest, unpublished writing and resources for free through my newsletter.
Also, did you know?
Highlights from my newsletter
We’ll Stay for the Oranges
The title of my newsletter explained.
“When Sam first introduced me to Bright Eyes, I wasn’t into it. I’m the kind of music lover who takes a minute to warm up, especially to the good stuff. The first time I listened to Kid A, I hated it so much I knew it had to be brilliant. But there was one song on Sam’s favorite Bright Eyes album that pulled me in right away: Bowl of Oranges.”
Single Mothering -
Or is it?
“Last year, I was invited to give a talk on single mothering at an academic conference of religion scholars. Those of us speaking were asked to reflect on single mothering through a ‘theological, theoretical, and political frame.’ The organizers of the conversation wanted to hold up single mothering not only in the light of its usual interpretation (i.e. a position of hardship and scarcity) but as a vision for what transformative living might be. I agreed, but a little voice deep down whispered uncomfortably, I’m not sure I belong here.”
This is Not a Breakup Letter
Words to academia as I leave my chaired faculty position.
“This is not a breakup letter. You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. I am, after all, leaving my chaired faculty position today. And, true, I want nothing to do with your worst qualities going forward…It’s a vibe I will no longer abide. With all of it, I’m done. And I might have been able to set the lot of it down gently and carry on my way if it weren’t also for the fact that the picture on your dating profile is a fake.”