In the last several decades, scholars have produced significant studies of Baptist women. Baptists and Gender, edited by Melody Maxwell and T. Laine Scales, broadens the scope of an expanding field of scholarly research. The collection of essays, prepared for the International Conference on Baptist Studies, explores the ways “global Baptists have constructed gender roles” (1). The global focus of the essays, arranged chronologically and grouped geographically, is an obvious strength of the volume. Of the twenty-three articles, nineteen focus upon Baptists outside of the United States. Beginning in 17th century England, Baptists and Gender includes studies based in Scotland, Russia, Romania, Georgia, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and Canada. In addition to the geographical diversity, the editors were careful to include a wide variety of attitudes toward women’s roles from the ordination of a Baptist Bishop in the country of Georgia to more conservative views of Fundamentalist Baptist women in Canada.

Three articles in Baptists and Gender examine constructs of masculinity. These perhaps provide the most significant contribution to this area of historiography. While it is encouraging that the body of research surrounding Baptist women is growing, “studies of Baptist men and masculinity … are scarce” (2). Brian Talbot’s essay analyzes constructs of masculinity in the sermons of Scottish pastor Walter Mursell. Seth Dowland examines the “Brutal Faith” of muscular Christianity promoted by Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg in his football program at the University of Chicago. Finally, Malcolm Foley’s “Neither Shall They Learn War No More” offers a brilliant analysis of Black masculinity in the era of lynching. While readers will find much to commend this volume – from the intriquing exploration of color in Anne Steele’s hymnody to the disturbing and powerful “Rape of Antônia Teixeira” – the uniqueness of the articles on masculinity alone distinguishes this volume as an important contribution to Baptist studies.