Religion-based definitions of gender role: Any effect on welfare of women?

1. Religion-based definitions of gender role: Any effect on welfare of women? Fraction K. Dzinjalamala, PhD. African Bioethics Training Program Johns Hopkins University & Blantyre Malaria Project Presented at Faith-Based Organizations as Pioneers and Partners in Health Systems Development, May 31, 2005, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC

2. Population Distribution of religions in Malawi • Protestant 55%, • Roman Catholic 20%, • Muslim 20%, • Indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%

3. What’s open to speculation in the Malawi case • Can religiosity, at times, be an impediment to campaigns on gender equality and sensitization to gender inequalities? Fact: People respect their clergy’s views and tend to unquestionably adhere to teachings of their religion

4. Can extremist christians abuse/misinterpret the following judio-christian texts? • the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. • Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let thewives be to their own husbands in every thing. • But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. • Unto the woman GOD said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee Refs: 1 Corinthians 14:34; Ephesians 5:24; 1 Timothy 2:12; Gen 3:16

5. Some religionists’ concerns • Child daycare centers/ Kindergartens have become substitutes for needed maternal care for child development • Children spend little or no time with parents as both parents are, for most of the day, at work and come home in the evenings • Children being estranged from their parent at critical development stage when parental values could be effectively imparted…MISSED WINDOW FOR CHILD TRAINING • Increasing crime in our society can be traced back to lack of proper parental guidance in early childhood • In contrast, while the father hunts for food the mother could nurture her kids and family

6. An Islamic woman’s personal opinion…(Yasmid Mogahed) • “A Muslim woman does not need to degrade herself in this way. She has God as a standard. She has God to give her value; she doesn't need a man.” • “It took women in the West almost a century of experimentation to realize aprivilege given to Muslim women 1400 years ago.”

7. Muthoni (Dorcus) Kimani’s perspective (University of Cape Town): view of a feminist • “Man has failed in his duty as homemaker and compassionate family provider in his chase for his own ego so that women have realized that their God-given right to be supported while they bring up the next generation is not honored or respected” • “A woman finds that if she does not have a career she is treated as rubbish and labeled ‘goal keeper’. Somebody dictates your needs, wants and wishes.” • “When one parent dies the remaining one should be empowered to take care of the children”

8. 2004 Documented Problems in Malawi • Persistence of gender inequality at almost all levels • Adult illiteracy is still very high at 58% and is worse among women • Low economic status of women • Inadequate preparation of children to develop their full potential to learn, grow and develop into responsible adulthood and increasing cases of juvenile delinquency;

9. Other problems • There has been physical fighting and damage of property directly related to differences about whether a woman is appropriate for a certain job. • Women divorced for pursuing studies abroad or at home • Divorce and/or physical abuse of women who refuse to have more children • Some men still believe use of conventional contraception is “sin”

10. Questions • How can religious institutions promote female autonomy without “compromising” their dogma-based definitions of a woman’s position in relation to man • Which approach would be more effective in building an ideal society: Feminism approach? Religion-based approach?