Browsing by Author "Kamande, Elijah"

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    The Role of Women in Society
    (Tangaza University College, 1998-02-16) Kamande, Elijah
    Women have both legal rights and access to existing means for the improvement of oneself and the society. They are the key players in the well-being of society. They have a role to play in food production, processing, storage and preparation. They perform sixty to eighty percent of all agricultural labour, and ninety five percent of all domestic labour. At homes, they draw water, collect firewood, feed and take care of all members of the family, the sick and the aged people alike. In many Churches, they perform most of the manual and welfare services which both sustain and develop lay women. In most cases, such tasks are undertaken without access to modern tools, training or credit facilities. Inspite of all their efforts, their work is rarely given monetary value. All these data were received from researches I carried out during my May-August 1997 holidays at Wema Parish in Lamu (Kenya), as well as December holidays at Kariobangi Parish (Nairobi), Gaichanjiru Parish (Murang'a) and Nyeri Cathedral. I had prepared some questionnaires which, after explaining their purpose, I distributed to the faithful for answering. • I had some irregularities, but at the end of the day. I got what I was after. The collected data, which reads as follows, indicate that women's burdens are the greatest. SOCIETYin school enrollment by girls. However, despite the fact that only thirty percent of the three to five year olds participate in early childhood education programmes, participation by sex has been constant between 1989 to 1990 at fifty one percent for boys and forty nine percent for girls. In Kenya only, female enrollment in universities rose from fifteen percent in 1973 to twenty four percent in 1987 and twenty eight point seven percent in 1991. Since then, there has been an active involvement and interest of women in politics. Actually, thirty percent of the legislative body in Kenya are women. Further studies reveal that since 1991, there has been a steady decline in the proportion of girls entering universities in the country, reaching twenty seven percent between 1992 to 1993.2 1 have cited Kenya only as an example, otherwise the same problem is recurring in other African countries and world at large. Statistics and daily experiences of women subjugation made me choose the title of my essay as it reads. My major objective is to revitalize and empower, with an ever living force, the role and place of women in society who have been subjugated for generations by male domination. I aim at bringing an awareness to women that they should not only be seen, but also be heard.' Many people may not immediately know how they are subjugated, but the truth is manifested in the world media and daily experiences. In Kenya, there are many women liberation movements, like Kenya Anti-Rape Organization, Economic Empowerment of Women, National Council of Women in Kenya, Kenya League of Women Voters, International Federation of Women Lawyers, and Feminist Theologians among others. All these organizations and movements are concerned with women's equality and rights, and with overcoming injustices such as women domination by men - which is largely unquestioned, exclusion of women from decision making bodies, discrimination of women in politics, economic, legal, worship and educational spheres, sexual assault of women among others.4 They aim at sustaining improvement in the wellbeing of the individual as well as bestowing benefits to all. They also intend to terminate all cultural prejudices, discrimination, sexism, female harrassment, use of women as objects for advertisements in business sectors by educating them about morality, male domination of women, racism and other similar atrocities, which in one way or another, have caused 'perpetual' subjugation and instrumentalization of women in all walks of life over a lengthy period of time. In this essay, I will take into consideration such problems and their possible remedies discursively within four Chapters. In the first Chapter, 1 will consider the problem of language and its current usage. The way we talk discloses what is abundant within us. Unless we speak out our minds, none can either know what our thoughts are or our attitudes. People's language really can delimit peoples worth. This has happened to women who, for many generations, have been victimized to male domination and are reduced to second class citizens. It is for that reason I consider language as a door through which one 'enters' into a person. This chapter ends with viable suggestions to remedy the problems surrounding the use of exclusive language, instead of the inclusive one. The second Chapter considers some possible root causes of women's delimitation. I will trace this problem back into the Jewish traditions and ancient Greek culture. These two influenced the patristic, medieval, modern and Contemporary mindset of Christian ( Catholic ) theologians. To find a remedy to the situation. I will consider the Gospel Message as cardinal in posing challenges to people's cultures; although the two named cultures had a sensible role in the composition of the scripture. The third chapter, will pay recourse to the doctrines of the Church and see what she teaches about women. It is from this period that the Church started considering women as human persons, through the influence of the personalist view which replaced the former classical view. The fourth chapter will concern Africa. The point of departure is African traditions for the interpretation of the present treatment accorded to women. In contrast, today women are realizing their own giftedness and worth within society. To better that emerging awareness in future, I will give some suggestions after my personal evaluation. That will be followed by conclusion. Before I embark into the contents of my essay, I invite all my readers to it with an awareness that the problem of my concern is a pastoral one and many scholars are devoting their efforts in revitalizing the dignity of women as well as suggesting a pastoral theology that affords sameness within society. Some theological reflections proposed in this essay are not definitive. They are subject to evaluation and further refinement. It is my sincere hope and believe that this essay will serve as an -eye opener" or the basis for further theological explorations in the pursuit of revitalizing the dignity and rights of women. I confidently say that because I am fully informed that our Christian faith does not warrant any sort of SOCIETYsubjugation or instrumentalization to any human being. All were created in God's image and likeness, Gen 1:27, and therefore there is no male or female, circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free, Gal 3:28. Instead, we are all one in Christ. No one is more human than the other. Equal human rights and dignity are, therefore, imperative. 4