How do we find ourselves unable to affirm a fundamental element of human experience—the reality and givenness of our being differentiated as male and female, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters? It is a reality the child first learns at his or her mother’s breast. Why then has it been so widely nullified and its expression increasingly sanctioned? What caused this strange development? The answers lie deep in the theological and philosophical assumptions of modernity.

The 2024 John Paul II Institute’s annual Summer Fellowship “Gender, Technology, and Culture” will engage deeply with the theological and philosophical questions raised by the emergence and seeming success of gender ideology. We will focus on the relationship between the current gender movement, modernity’s dominant scientific and technological understanding of reality, and the rejection of cultural form.

The Fellowship will include lectures, ample time for discussion, cultural events around Washington D.C., and social time among students and with faculty.

The Fellowship will take place May 20-24, at the John Paul II Institute, on the campus of The Catholic University of America. College juniors, seniors, and recent graduates in all majors are welcome to apply.

Application

Prospective Summer Fellows should complete the application form by March 1. (Deadline extended until March 15. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and as places remain available until March 15.) Acceptance notifications will be sent by March 15 (for applications received by March 1.)

Costs

All Summer Fellows will receive a scholarship that covers the cost of housing in the dorms of The Catholic University of America, meals, and tuition. Participants will be responsible for their own travel to Washington, DC, public transportation expenses, and a $200 registration fee.

Questions may be directed to Elena Martin at [email protected] or 202-526-3799.

I enjoyed all of the activities. I especially enjoyed the time at the National Gallery of Art because I was able to view the art through the anthropological lens that we were discussing this week. There was a great sense of community, and we had awesome discussions through the week. (Emily Thomas, 2023 Fellow).

The most valuable part of this experience for me was the deep dialogue into the issues of our culture, to know how to respond. Often, we miss the anthropological, metaphysical, theological assumptions of people around us and I think we cannot have adequate discussion without recognizing these things. This definitely gave me the backdrop to do that more. (Joseph Hempfling, 2023 Fellow).