9 Badass Feminists Of Faith You Should Know

They have been assaulted, arrested, excommunicated, and condemned for defying male religious authority. They even - gasp - use the words "hymen" and "vagina." Here are nine badass Jewish, Christian, and Muslim feminists who shatter stereotypes and are scaring the sh!# out of the patriarchy.

1. Mona Eltahawy

"Mona Eltahawy 2011" by personaldemocracy - Flickr: Mona Eltahawy 2. Licensed under CC BY-SA http://2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - commons.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

An award winning columnist and internationally recognized activist for global feminism, Mona Eltahawy grounds her work in her Islamic faith. In 2011 while covering protests in Tahrir, she was physically and sexually assaulted by Egyptian riot police leaving her left arm and right hand broken. In typical badass form, Eltahawy continued her journalism and her call for women's political and social rights. She is the author of Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution, and was named one of Newsweek's "150 Fearless Women of 2012." Connect with her on Twitter @monaeltahawy.

Badass Feminist Quote: "All religions, if you shrink them down, are all about controlling women’s sexuality… They’re obsessed with my vagina. I tell them: stay outside my vagina unless I want you in there." - The Guardian

2. Kate Kelly

ordainwomen-0938 © Katrina Barker Anderson / Via Flickr: 104442809@N03

Founder of Ordain Women and human rights attorney Kate Kelly challenged the Mormon Church to recognize women's ability to lead and be included in priesthood. The LDS responded by excommunicating Kelly. Undaunted, Kelly responded by continuing her work; the movement remains strong, as does her commitment to women's human rights. Connect with her on Twitter @Kate_Kelly_Esq.

Badass Feminist Quote: "[Women fighting for their rights in Zimbabwe] are being so brave in such a personal way with their most intimate community. These cops who are beating them and arresting them live in their neighborhood and they’ll see them tomorrow. What is it I’m doing in my most intimate community to stand up for myself and the people most dear to me?” - BuzzFeed

3. Anat Hoffman

Via womenofthewall.org.il

Israeli activist Anat Hoffman is the Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) and Director and founding member of Women of the
Wall. Demanding legal recognition for Jewish women to pray out loud at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Hoffman was arrested and strip searched. Following her release, she came back fighting and continues the battle for women to pray at the wall.

Badass Feminist Quote: "In [using] feminism I always go for the least expected way. Every establishment that is saturated with testosterone and patriarchalism simply falls on its face when confronted with humor. Women need to create that: to invent funny methods." - Haaretz

4. Amina Wadud

Via aminawadud.com

An Islamic feminist scholar and activist, Amina Wadud is well recognized for her work in re-examining the Qur'an to further dialogue around gender issues. She was the first woman to lead a Muslim prayer in the US for a mixed-gender audience, and did so in the face of international condemnations and threats of violence. You can connect with Amina on Twitter @aminawadud and read more of her work on FeminismandReligion.com.

Badass Feminist Quote: “Patriarchy got us out of the caves, but it can now be retired in favor of equality and compassion.” - The Jakarta Post

5. Rabbi Jill Jacobs

Photo courtesy of Jill Jacobs

Rabbi Jill Jacobs is the Executive Director of T'ruah: The Rabbinic
Call for Human Rights and an influential social activist. She was arrested for protesting police brutality and the grand jury's decision not to indict a NYC police officer for causing the death of Eric Garner in 2014. Connect with her on Twitter @rabbijilljacobs.

Badass Feminist Quote: "What’s the best way to create social change? An impossible question to answer–we might have to start by doing everything." - Jewcy

6. Xochitl Alvizo

Via feminismandreligion.com

Co-founder and Project Weaver for the influential blogging project Feminism and Religion that reaches readers in 181 countries, Xochitl Alvizo is a well known feminist theologian and activist. She serves as Assistant Professor of Women's Studies in Religion at California State University Northridge and is a founder of Pub Church. Xochitl is recognized for continually exploring new ways to expand borders and create inclusion through innovative rituals and progressive action. Connect with Xochitl on Twitter @xochitlalvizo and read more of her writings on Feminism and Religion.

Badass Feminist Quote: "Anger is part of the work of love . . .There is a lot to be angry about. May we use our anger and direct its energy toward the work of justice and love and the social change that they call forth." - Feminism and Religion

7. Melody Moezzi

Free Expression Tunnel, NC State; Credit: Mario Mathis / Via Flickr: melodymoezzi

*Melody Moezzi is a writer, activist, and attorney. She is also the author of Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life, chronicling her struggle and eventual diagnosis with bipolar disorder. In addition to writing and speaking on Islam and Iran, Melody also boldly and tirelessly advocates for those living with mental illness as she seeks to break the cycle of fear and shame. Connect with her on Twitter @MelodyMoezzi.

Badass Feminist Quote: "As an activist, when people try to shut you up, it is because you have something important to say . . . The more people tried to shut me up, the more I realized that it was important to keep talking." - Love Inshallah

8. Anthea Butler

Via upenn.edu

In addition to serving as associate Professor of Religious studies and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Anthea Butler is well known for her progressive views, political activism, and regular appearances on the Melissa Harris Perry Show on MSNBC. She is an advocate for better understanding of religion in the public and gives attention to women's issues in religion. Her latest book is is The Gospel According to Sarah: How Sarah Palin and the Tea Party are Galvanizing the Religious Right. Connect with her on Twitter @AntheaButler.

Badass Feminist Quote: “God ain’t good all of the time. As a black woman in a nation that has taken too many pains to remind me that I am not a white man, and am not capable of taking care of my reproductive rights, or my voting rights, I know that this American god ain’t my god." - Religion Dispatches

9. Mayim Bialik

http://Mayim_Bialik_at_the_36th_Annual_Gracie_Awards_Gala.jpg: Mingle MediaTV derivative work: Tabercil (talk) / Via commons.wikimedia.org

Most well known for her Emmy nominated role as Amy Farrah Fowler on "The Big Bang Theory," Mayim Bialik is a prominent Jewish feminist committed to women's human rights and faith as a foundation for social justice. Bialik’s role in “The Big Bang Theory” as a neuroscientist is based off her real-life role with a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She is also a regular blogger for Kveller, a website dedicated to interweaving Jewish tradition and parenting. Connect with Mayim on Twitter @missmayim.

Badass Feminist Quote: "There's certain parts of my body I want to allow and there's certain that I don't. The red carpet doesn't own my breasts, just because they exist." - Wendy Williams Show via Times Square Gossip

Gina Messina-Dysert, Jennifer Zobair, and Amy Levin are the badass editors of Faithfully Feminist: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Feminists on Why We Stay.