Dr. T. Nicole Goulet

T. Nicole Goulet received her PhD in Religion in 2010 from the University of Manitoba, with a focus on Hinduism and colonial India.

Her thesis, titled “The Many Lives of Sarada Devi: Gender, Renunciation, and Hindu Politics in Colonial India,” dealt with multiple interpretations of Sarada Devi (1852–1920), who was the Hindu child bride of famous nineteenth-century renouncer Ramakrishna (1836–86). In this work, she was primarily concerned with the variety of ways Sarada’s ritual practices as a Hindu renouncer were interpreted by particular groups, be it Ramakrishna’s, Sarada’s, or Vivekananda’s (Ramakrishna’s favorite devotee) devotees by relying on feminist and postcolonial theories in order to “re-read” devotional texts.

At the heart of Goulet’s research interests is identifying the role and interplay of race, class, and gender as it relates to religion in general, and Hinduism specifically. These interests inform her current projects, including a collaborative effort on women, religion, and clothing, which is in its initial stages in development. These interests have also influenced how Goulet approaches and understands the study of religion in contemporary society, as can be noted in the following blog posts:

“Critical Questions Series 3: Category Formation and Eastern’‘ Traditions,” June 10, 2013

“Commentary on York University: Religious Freedom vs. Women’s Rights,” January 20, 2014

“Competing Representations,” March 3, 2014

“So You’re Not a Priest?,” June 1, 2016

“What’s In Your Syllabus?,” February, 2017

“What is a Feminazi?” April 20, 2017

Office Hours

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• T/R:

Contact Information

• Email: goulet@iup.edu
• Office Location: 505F HSS