Land, Power, Racism and the Reinforcement of Traditional Gender Roles: The Asatru Folk Association Intentional Communities

Abstract: In the last decade, folkish (white-only) Heathenry has become more visible within both contemporary Pagan and far-right circles. Central to the intergenerational growth of such groups lies the purchase of land for intentional, racially “pure” communities. The Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA), one of the earliest and largest folkish Heathen groups, now possesses four such sites across the United States, with plans to add two more sites. This paper examines how AFA land purchases reinforce power imbalances within this alternative spirituality, focusing on the ways in which traditional gender roles serve the racially ‘pure’ future of the organization at these sites.

Presenter bios: Helen A. Berger, PhD is an affiliated scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University. She is sole or co-author of four books and editor of a collection of essays on contemporary Paganism. She is currently researching contemporary Pagan who are part of the far-right in the United States.

Evan Robins is an independent researcher and historian. 

Presenter affiliations: Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University (Berger); Independent Researcher (Robins)