My Body is Where I Exist: Poverty, Disability, and Embodied Resistance as a Theology of Practice

This paper explores embodiment as a locus for theological practices of
addressing socio-economic inequality, focusing particularly on the intersections of
disability and poverty. Engaging the work of Sharon Betcher and Mayra Rivera, the
paper explores the relationship between spirit and flesh, and highlights the need for
theologies to engage with and learn from unruly, excluded bodies. The paper constructs three poetic accounts from a collaborative project with UK activists to highlight embodied practices of navigating and resisting inequality, and the creative,
sensory knowledges necessary for developing critiques of oppressive systems.