Using Traditional Patriarchal Institutions to Address Women’s Problems (original) (raw)
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Innovare journal of social sciences, 2023
Demographically, more than half of the African population are women. Nevertheless, disparities in allusion to gender lingers at the apex of contemporary issues, especially in Africa. For several decades, women have been longstanding and continuously sidelined from the socioeconomic, cultural, and religious leadership positions and participation. Gender disparities, therefore, seem to be deeply embedded in socioeconomic, cultural, and religious practices in Africa. Despite the multifarious national and international legislations endorsed against gender disparities, there remains a great lacuna of women's marginalization in governance. The study illuminated the gender disparities with the aid of historical and analytical evaluation as well as the social role theoretical framework. This was further combined with the explanatory and exploratory qualitative research design. This was effective in understanding the numerous drivers for gender disparities as well as the social gender roles and norms, the general exploitative nature of marriage, cultural legacies, politics, and religion in the African context vis a vis western world. This paper also discovered that although women are as intellectually capable as men, ostracism of women remains evident across diverse echelons of human civilization including democratic societies. The research found that some critical factors such as economic impediments, lack of or inadequate education, and religious belief, foster gender disparities in Africa. This research recommended an overhaul of the patriarchal education and curriculum, the analysis and study of religious books must be in accordance with the transformed sociological realities. Moreover, equality must be evidenced in the recruitment process of qualified men and women in governance. The paper concluded that the inflexible and barbaric cultural stereotypes and religious practices be reformed with consideration to gender parity. A standard shift is essential especially by women themselves, to ensure that women are both enlightened and empowered.
Patriarchy and Religion: The Exploitation of women
Patriarchal religion does violence to women through its preponderant use of male language for God, its traditional teaching on women’s inferiority and the household codes prescribed by all religions, mandate the subordination and passiveness of women. With a brief review of literature this paper tries to explore how women are condemned and marginalized in ancient religious literature, myths and scriptures. The objective of the study is to explore how patriarchy accelerates its exploitation on women through the means of religion. Following the method of purposive sampling 9 religious heads of three different religions (Hinduism, Islamic, Christianity) have been interviewed in depth. Simultaneously a household survey of 90 women, taking 10 from each religion (Hinduism, Islamic, Christianity); has been conducted. Major agenda of the study is to explore the deliberate attempts of the various religious heads to control women can be seen not just as an idiosyncrasy but rather a typical characteristic of authoritarian regime of patriarchy. This study analyzes how patriarchy in different religions, chains back women to orthodox practices till today and how men especially through their religious faiths, threaten and prohibited the utilization of an unlimited amount of talent and abilities within them.
RELIGION, GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT: EMERGING ISSUES
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