Summary: Since commencing his ARC-funded research into Islamic preaching in West Java, Julian Millie has been more and more struck by the greater interest of female Muslims in preaching events when compared with males. Females are highly active in organising preaching events and pedagogical events. They appear more interested in the content of the sermons, and display characteristic forms of embodied engagement in the events. Finally, successful preachers often direct their oratorical strategies specifically to female audience-members. In his paper for the Monash Religious Communication Conference, Julian Millie will present his research into these observations by answering the following questions: What interest do women have in preaching events, and what is the nature of their engagement in them? What social aspects of religious participation in West Java can explain this? To what extent do preachers implement strategies that cater specifically for these interests in their sermons?
