religion and gender inequality in africa

The Boshingo of Luanda's cosmological myth, for example, states that Bumba (God) was in terrible pain at the beginning of time, and retched and strained and vomited up the sun. Boys and girls were found to be similar in gender schematicity. Alternatively, when under the influence of certain deities, some female mediums of various religious groups exhibit characteristics generally associated with males. We also found, however, that race/ethnicity moderates effects of education and poverty on the co-occurring behaviors, with Whites' mental health benefiting more from wealth and education than Blacks' or Hispanics' mental health did. This paper considers the three main Western feminist theoretical frameworks — liberal, socialist and radical — and their educational applications. Their technological wherewithal guarantees them unlimited access to every nook and cranny of the globe and they are able to be first with the news much of the time. study addresses this question and distinguishes particular cultural influences on women's gender beliefs using survey data collected from a national sample of Arab Americans. This healing aptitude may be exhibited by women as individuals in their capacities as priestesses and healers, or in a collective as a religious group, such as the zaar cults of Ethiopia, Somalia, Egypt, and Eritrea. Third, interpretations given to gender construction in African ritual practice by some non-African scholars may be described as controversial, especially when compared to interpretations given by Africans participating in such rituals. Oduyoye, Amba Mercy, and Musimbi R. A. Kanyoro, eds. From Primitive to Zen. Journal of Religion in Africa 32, no. Articles therein present pertinent issues that proffer serious theoretical reviews for Christianity in Africa. To explain this widespread practice of female solidarity, scholars of religion have propounded various theories. Again, these narratives confirm the African preference for areas of specialization for the female and the male. London, 1985. Men are seen on the thrones and in official settings as rulers, yet perceived as unable to stand without the help of the invisible base. For instance, legendary goddesses are known to possess "wives" (devotees, votary maids, and mediums), just as certain gods do. Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 18, no. For instance, social stigma linked to purchasing condoms, male dominance or cultural embedded views of fertility can affect HIV-prevention and lead to a high burden of HIV on women (Gebre et al., 2013; Redesigning Men: Hegemonic Masculinity in Transition, 2014 Southern Africa's Migration Burden. Sudarkasa, Niara. In its absence, the patriarchy views the female to be as pure as a virgin and fit for the habitation of the deity in the form of, for example, votary maids, adolescent girls dedicated to certain deities until the age of marriage. 22 Dec. 2020 . Submits that gender was imported into Yoruba Oyo philosophy from Western philosophy. Because of the substantial differences in the ways male and female roles are portrayed in our culture, boys and girls may think and learn about these roles differently. In addition, this paper seeks to deconstruct some of the stereotypical views on Efik traditional marriage with regard to the female gender. Hinga, M. Teresa. Consequently, female leadership roles and access to power in religion are anchored on divine provisions that are validated by these cosmological narratives. Furthermore, the ambivalence marking African expectations and assumptions for female status become evident. Oxford, 2000. "Gender and Religion: Gender and African Religious Traditions In the presence of menstrual blood, the patriarchy views the female, usually a wife, as suspect, even though she is extolled as a mother. Steady, Filomena. Washington, D.C., 1987. The Yoruba cosmological myth states that Olodumare (God) sent seventeen primordial divinities to earth at the beginning of time, Osun being the only female among them. "Interpreting Old Testament Polygamy Through African Eyes." In African Traditional Religion in Contemporary Society, edited by Jacob Kehinde Olupona, pp. Thus, while most people develop competent moral skills, a few fail to develop these skills and a few develop them to an “expert” level. https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/gender-and-religion-gender-and-african-religious-traditions. female role; thus, children's cognitions about these two roles may be expected to differ. Appreciation for her care is demonstrated yearly in an elaborate festival that attracts devotees from within and outside Nigeria (Olupona, 2000). Myth supplies explanations for values and meanings in people's lives. Underpinned by the framing theory and employing textual analysis, this paper analyses the representation of the 1994 Rwanda genocide in order to understand the ideological imperatives underpinning such framing and the possible impact of such representation on public opinion and perceptions. As a concept, “gender inequality” refers to the obvious or hidden disparities among individuals based on the performance of the gender. In addition, access to power and authority are consequences of these classifications. This, coming from young boys who had no wives even just made me wonder if our traditions and culture that we stand by are in fact the driving force behind gender inequality. Lagos, Nigeria, 1992. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). On the one hand, Article 31 (1) and Article 3 3 clearly state that there is no difference between husband and wife with respect to their basic rights such as love; respect, or fidelity. One work giving major consideration to the place of women in the interaction of Christianity and African culture in recent times. However, the date of retrieval is often important. According to United Words (2011), Within South Africa, there is a specific atmosphere which reinforces traditional gender roles. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. In Women in Africa and in the African Diaspora, edited by Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, Andrea Benton Rushing, and Sharon Harley, pp. Contains an array of articles on the rights of women and how the African culture can undermine these rights. The skill development literature indicates that deliberate practice is necessary for the acquisition of expertise. Apart from a small group of local white antiquarians, whose work is only now undergoing re-evaluation, very little was published before 1960 on the history of the Shona. This means that husbands can be domestic carers including taking care of children if they have no jobs, while wives can be finacial providers or the head of household if they are capable to do so. Considers the goddess tradition in Egypt and attempts to compare the present. For example, Article 31 (3) and Article 34 stipulate a clear division between the roles of husbands and wives within marriage. Consequently, a study of goddesses would provide tools for evaluating and analyzing the status of women in African indigenous religions, as well as for assisting in analysis of the inherent gender dynamics in the traditions. Considers embedded meanings of ritual in the worship of Sango in old Oyo, Nigeria and how they informed significant political considerations at the time. 121–132. Whereas some myths may describe women as unable to keep secrets, women in certain domains are indeed the keepers of secrets. The Strength of Our Mothers: African and African American Women and Families, Essays and Speeches. Though usually associated with the intellectual lineage that runs from Cheikh Anta Diop (192…, ••• Challenges faced by women in attaining or rejecting these ascribed roles are also considered. Nasimiyu-Wasike, Anne. We investigate empirically whether political institutions or culture and religion underlie gender inequality in education. There is the perspective that prioritizes the influence of African culture in paradigms concerning women, and this influences the women's understanding and practicing of Islam. women’s rights on misinterpreted scriptures, our African culture and some of its abhorrent provisions and tradi - tions have also been indicted by scholars and gender rights activists for having oppressed African women with exploitative customary mores and traditions. Crumbley, Deidre. Examples of such centers include the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and the Institute of Women and Gender studies at the Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Later, Bumba vomited the moon, stars, animals, and last of all, humans (Eliade, 1967). This research involves in-depth interviews with five heterosexual women of Nigerian heritage living in the north of England in Leeds, UK. Another feature is that women traditionally assume roles of leadership as priestesses, diviners, and healers. The contributions of Sandra Bem, a pioneer in feminist psychology, are reviewed in the context of her life. The idea is to interrogate, deconstruct and demystify gender stereotypes that are constructed by culture and religion to discourage women from participating fully in the development of contemporary Africa. Osun Seegesi: The Elegant Deity of Wealth, Power, and Femininity. Study results also indicate that managerial womenwho juggle jobs and family life benefit from these multiple roles, but women who put off marriage and family to build top-level careers suffer in later years from greatly reduced chances of finding spouses and having children. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Examines the role of women in governance at Nigeria's independence in 1960. centres, while the changes brought about by Western influences bear on practically every aspect of people's lives. Religious participation appears to provide the basic elements of deliberate “moral practice.” Empirical evidence is reviewed supporting the notion that religion provides the means and opportunity for the acquisition of moral expertise. Emanating from these studies are notions of fluidity in gender construction and the complexity attending gender as a social tool for religious analysis. In Goddesses Who Rule, edited by Elizabeth Benard and Beverly Moon, pp. The presence or absence of menstrual blood contributes significantly to the construction of gender in religion. These female roles exemplify the African notion of interdependency, mutuality, and compassion of gender relations. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. In spite of these advantages the western press's coverage of African issues has been mired in controversy due to a number of alleged shortcomings. A consideration of the dynamics of gender construction in the Igbo society of Nigeria. Okonjo, Kemene. 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