Undergraduate Projects/Long Essays

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The Numerical Disparity Between Men and Women Of Marriageable Age Challenges the Institution Of Marriage and Sacramental Life in The Church Of Zimbabwe.
(Tangaza University College, 2004) Alfigioh, Tunha
For a long time now, it has been a general concern in the Catholic Church to try to speculate the future of marriage as an institution and sacrament. There has been a big outcry over the instability of marriage especially in Africa. There are many cases of divorce; single parenting and polygamous relationships and all these circumstances challenge not only the sacrament of matrimony but also the whole sacramental life of the Church. However, this paper focuses on one of those problems that are threatening the institution of marriage, that is, the numerical gender disparity between male and female of marriageable age, with special reference to the Catholic Church of Zimbabwe. Not many people have dared to discuss this issue deeply but it is an entrenched reality. The main objective that prompted me to reflect on this topic is because of my pastoral experience I had in a small town called Chivhu in Zimbabwe. I conducted a census of all Catholic families residing in that town and it was from that exercise that I realized the disparity. Fortunately, my discovery helped me to answer the question that I had about why few people were receiving communion during mass whilst the pews were packed. I came to realize that there were a lot of ambiguities around the sacrament of matrimony and these loopholes were barring many people from receiving communion. This sparked a flame of concern in me and it is out of this apprehension that I am presenting this thesis. In order to follow this presentation clearly, chapter one states the problem of shortage of men in Zimbabwe and its consequences. Most of the information used is from my personal fieldwork research. The second chapter demonstrates how this problem has directly challenged the sacramental life of the church in Zimbabwe. The third chapter is a theological reflection. which reviews the issue in the scriptural context, canonical context and ecclesial context. In other words, what does the Church say to the given problem? As I have said earlier own, that not many people have endeavored into this kind of research. It is my hope that this work will stimulate many to try this hypothesis and forge ahead with field research on the problem of numerical gender disparity. Their findings, I.hope will help the Church to find amicable solutions, which will help the church to respond fully to all her pastoral challenges.
The Role of Women in The Gospel of Matthew And Its Implications in Today's Church
(Tangaza University College, 2003) Akimana, Concorde
The purpose of this work is to find out whether the love of Jesus, shown to women, one of the marginalized groups of his day, is put into practice in today's Church. The present work has three chapters. To facilitate this study we shall need to begin by looking at the position of women in Graeco-Roman Empire before and during the time of Jesus. This is because the sacred writers of the New Testament, including Matthew, were influenced by different cultures. In the first chapter, we shall look at Greek philosophy and the Roman Law, without however forgetting what the Old Testament says about the position of women. Our intention is not to show a negative side of looking down upon women by the Bible world. It is rather to let the reader know the impact of prejudices of the patriarchal society on women in the Scriptures. In chapter two, however, we will study how, Jesus, a male Jew, goes beyond the bias of the Old Testament. Matthew presents to us Jesus who is truly human born of a woman (1:1 — 18). We shall find out why Matthew includes in the genealogy only five names of women among so many names of men. It will be considered important to know motive of the author and the nature of community that was made of the groups of marginalized people in the Jewish society. In this case women were not an exception.Thereafter, only when we have seen how Jesus preaches and heals both men and women will we now seek to know any longer that he has no discrimination. In addition, the Matthean Jesus sees divorce as an act of undoing what the Creator has done. Women in return, as true disciples will not remain indifferent or passive. They will play an important role by sharing a great sense of fidelity at Jesus' passion, death and burial. Moreover, women will become credible witnesses of the resurrection by announcing to the Apostles that Jesus is risen. The third chapter will examine whether the teaching of Jesus is put into practice. We shall, briefly, go through the entire history of the Church. We will consider the Church Fathers. They tried to balance the Old Testament with the New Testament. That is why they will allow both married women and virgins to play the key role in the development of the early Church. Some names like Macrina, Paula, Felicita, Perpertua, Monica and the mother of Gregory and Basil are unforgotten. In medieval period, women in the Church will continue to struggle for holiness. Though they are silenced, women will still remain active in Crusades, Monasteries and mysticism. The role of Catherina of Siena during Avignon Captivity is a factor that will make her a Doctor of the Church one of only three in the history of the Church. The period of the Reformation and Counter - Reformation, we shall find that reformers and counter — reformers were not only men, but also women. While some nuns were leaving monasteries because of their brothers who forced them to do so, other women had exceptional courage to remain in the monasteries, others joined religious life not only as cloister nuns, but also as active women. While Teresa of Avila busy reforming the Carmelite Order, Angela Merici and Mary Ward are worked tirelessly to be active in the world for the sake of the Church. The Second Vatican Council will make way for women's active participation in the Church and in the world. Its work has yet not ceased to make sure that women may enjoy the threefold ministry of Jesus by the virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation. The role of Mary as a woman in the Church, will not be left out. Her apparitions in different places throughout the ages are significant.
Using Print Media in Rehabilitation of Women Prisoners in Lang'ata Prison
(Tangaza University College, 2007) Chilupula, Stella
This study focuses on the inmates of Lang'ata Women Prison which was established in 1954, in colonial time, with a special concern for the rehabilitation of women from within Nairobi as well as other places in Kenya. It is the only maximum security prison for women serious offenders and capital convicts in Kenya. After independence in 1963, the Prison Ordinance was established which contained rules on how to help offenders reform. The structures to categorize inmates, earnings schemes, compulsory supervision, extramural penal employment, and correction youth training centre, as well as pilot schemes, were enacted in different parts of Kenya. Apart from training, prisoners are supposed to receive counseling in order to get rehabilited so as to return back integrated into society, ensuring safe custody.
Using Community Media in The Fight Against Hiv/Aids
(Tangaza University College, 2006) Moses Khaemba, Charles
The media has succeeded in presenting HIV/AIDS as a disease of immoral people in society. Other organizations have gone so far as carrying out research and tests only on those considered prostitutes. In Kenya, the term 'prostitute' is used discriminately. When people talk of prostitutes, they refer only to women who use sex as a tool of economic gain. For a prostitute to exist, there must be a man willing to pay for her services. It is not credible to carry out a research or a test on HIV/AIDS and prostitutes while at the same time ignoring the fact that there must be a man with whom she was involved. In an advertisement promoting condoms in Kenya some years back, women were depicted in a discotheque as carriers of the disease while advising men to take control of their lives by using condoms whenever they had sex with such women. Away from social places and drinking places, a man for example who is infected with the virus can also infect it to a woman take for example the common practice of wife inheritance among some communities in Kenya.
Healing Of Women Who Have Had An Abortion: A Pastoral Issue Today In an African And Christian Approach
(Tangaza University College., 2002-02) Massawe, Andrew Dionis
It is during my pastoral year in western part of Uganda, when I met a young woman who had a story to narrate to me. It is her sad story that took my attention to even think of developing it in this paper. The following is her story .. My name is Cleopatra [not her real name], I am sixteen years old. I am a drop out from Kyebambe Secondary School I dropped out of school immediately after the second term of Senior One. The following is what caused my ordeal. It was when I went home for my vacation and visited my boy friend at his parent's home. He told me that he loved me so much and has been waiting for me to come home and visit him. I did not have a perfect relationship with him though. He suggested to me that we have sex since it would make us friendlier. It was not right to have sex with him but I did. After a while I started experiencing some difficulties, and when I went to the clinic, the doctor told me that I was pregnant. When I returned to the boy, he suggested that I should go for an abortion since we all had to finish school In fact, he was the only one who knew about it. Finally, I had an abortion the following week. The minute left the clinic, I hated myself and wished that someone had stopped me. Afterwards I felt like an empty soul. All my life was torn apart for what I was told to do. Everyday I think about it. It is very hard to express my feeling and my thought. She ended her story with tears flowing in her eyes. Coming back to Tangaza College, I had an opportunity to attend a course in pastoral psychology being offered and taught by Rev. Prof Raphael Wanjohi. While discussing the topic on the victims of abortion, it gave me an opportunity to put together the story of this young woman. Her words made me feel a strong desire to develop this work. There is something in our heads that we know and is quite different from what we know in our hearts. One may intellectually know that abortion is wrong, but the emotional fears and terrors may outweigh that knowledge and prevent the heart from understanding and acting on that truth. This was the same with my friend Cleopatra. My approach to the whole issue is about what could be done for the woman in the story above. She is disturbed and in agony because of the pain and loss. Having followed her story quite closely, we became more convinced that, there are many women who might be in the same situation hence development of this work. We are here considering an African as well as Christian perspective on the whole issue of healing of the women who have had an abortion. For, as long as this ministry is ignored, we run into the risk of developing a society of traumatized mothers or women who at the end will turn into other abuses searching for answers that may not be found.
The Impact of Women Development in the Church: Case Study of the Catholic Women at Holy Savior Parish, Kafue Zambia
(Tangaza University College, 2011) Sanicalimba, Kelly
This essay is intended to show the dignity of women in today's society by studying the impact of the service of women in the development of the Church and the society at large. This case study intends to show how women are actively involved in the process of development of the Kafue Parish in Zambia in the Archdiocese of Lusaka. It has been my concern to find out how women have been contributing to the development of the Church in Zambia. In this particular instance, I have looked at a particular case that will give an overview of the role of women in the development of the Church in Zambia. A case study of my Parish, Kafue in Zambia was what I came out with to help investigate this scenario. For sometime, I would say 15 years; I have seen great improvement in the way women are trying to contribute to the development of the Parish. As the number of women joining various organizations that exists at the Parish has steadily increased. I have been asking myself why this is the case. Fifteen years ago it was not like that. This has been my experience and that is what the parishioners who have been attending the Parish are also asking. I AM interested to know what cultural values were embraced at that particular time and if at all they were in conflict with values held by the parishioners and the teachings of the church. What then has changed that their development efforts are being recognized? I am motivated to find out what these channels are that women currently have employed in their contributions to the development in the Church. Have they overcome some stigmatizations or rather stereotypes that were there in the past years? We will also investigate what contributions women have made in the whole area of leadership in the church. We will further look at its theological and sociological implications. It is my view that this paper will also help in further research concerning women in the church.
Stereotyped Images of Women in High-Fashion Advertising in Women's Magazines
(Tangaza University College, 2006) Odhiambo, Pauline
Since time immemorial certain roles have been ascribed to women; the role of daughter. sister, wife, lover and mother. Traditionally, a woman was considered a caregiver to her family and to others outside her family. She played the role of daughter to her father, nurturer of her children and obedient wife and lover to her husband. In short, a woman could only be described as an extension of a man be it her father, brother(s) or husband.' With the advent of civilization into metropolitan societies, a woman acquired new roles. She became the glorified homemaker and the glamorous accessory 2. Her domain was the household in which she wielded her power. The affairs of the household were left solely to her. In the day to day running of the household, her husband could only offer his financial support and it was up to her to keep the home clean and habitable for the benefit of her family and guest(s) of her household. She was hospitality incarnate. Her second new role; that of glamorous accessory came about as a consequent of her husband's financial wealth. In nineteenth century (North) America, it was considered vain and even immoral for the bourgeois man to adorn himself in the sumptuousness of wealth. There was however a need for him to display his prosperity and wealth. Thus, a woman's clothing insofar as it subscribed to fashion, was a representation of wealth, a bauble by which men could display their wealth without assuming any of the guilt associated with it. In this respect, women came to be known as the "vicarious consumers" of men of wealth. Attached to each industrial breadwinner was his vicarious consumer; in all public and social occasions, it was her task to demonstrate her husband's ability to pay. 3 She was to adorn herself in all manner of finery (jewels, clothing, fragrance and other accessories). Her make-up and attire were to be worn impeccably and with certain flourish so that men and women alike could admire her. She was the medium by which her husband's wealth was to be advertised.
Moral and Pastoral Approach to Rape and Violence against Women
(Tangaza University College, 2006-01) Ichaberi, Luseka Everlyne
Violence is a common issue in the contemporary world. Nations and communities are seeking ways by which to curb it. It appears to have been on the increase in the past decade. This is not only in Africa, but in the whole world. Generally, when people speak of violence, what comes to mind is physical violence, which includes armed robbery and the use of other types of physical force on the victims there are some forms of violence in which women are the major targets. These include physical assaults like battering and sometimes actual murder. The media carries numerous reports of men being arrested after physically assaulting or killing their wives. Violence against women is also expressed through sextiM assaults, as is the case with rape or attempted rape. The reported cases are mainly extra-familial, that is, cases in which men rape women or girls who are not their own wives or daughters. This does not mean that sexual violence does not take place within families, occasionally, there have been cases of fathers raping their own daughters. Violence against women therefore remains a reality in many parts of the world including Africa. This violence includes a wide range of abuses and harassment, such as physical battering, sexual and psychological abuse, harassment at places of work, female feticides and infanticides, infant neglect, dowry-related violence, female genital mutilation and forced prostitution. Few people recognize that violence against women is rooted in the society where the status of women is not favourable. Sexual violence tends to be seen in isolation as the act of the few perverted sex monsters.
An Exegesis of Matthew 1:2-16 The Inclusion of the Five Women as a Paradigm For Gender Equality in Christian Life and Ministry.
(Tangaza University College, 2002-02) Lambe, Ferena
Substantially, this is an exegetical investigation that analyses Matthew 1:2-16 in order to expose its original message. It gives particular reference to the inclusion of the five women, arguing that their inclusion is a paradigm for gender equality in Christian life and ministry.
Women as Custodians of Continuos Creation and Their Holistic Empowerment a Case Study of Oldonyiro Women Group
(Tangaza University College, 2001-03) Achieng Origa, Vincentia
Real development is only realised when it addresses the very needs of the people. Kenya like any other contemporary society undergoes many changes from all aspects of life that is economical, political, social, cultural and religious changes. All these affect women in one way or another. This study is based on Samburu women in Oldonyiro Division. The study seeks first to get the information from the Samburu community especially the women through questioner about the hash climate, cultural background of the Samburu people, their nomadic kind of life, occurrence of draughts, banditry or insecurity, economic problems, illiteracy and the poor attitude of the Samburu people. All these factors have hindered development in Samburu land in the past. Therefore, the researcher together with the community suggests other alternatives that will help eradicate these negative factors. The community would do this by initiating income-generating projects to improve the economy, improve the environment by planting trees, encouraging the government to enforce both formal and informal education, step up security in the area, helping the Samburu people to seek alternatives concerning their nomadic life, and some of their culture and their attitude towards life. All these factors have hindered development in the area for many years. Therefore, the women of Oldonyiro Parish have taken it upon themselves to embark on the development that would answer their very needs. They do this by initiating icome-generating projects in order to he self-reliant, and improving the environment by planting trees. They have planned to be the pioneers in initiating the informal education for themselves through seminars and workshops. They Vdould like to encourage the government to reinforce formal education especially to the girl-child who because of bad cultural practises have been left behind almost in every thing. This has jeopardised the equality between men and women in Samburu land and as a result the women have never been part of the decision making with the elders of the community. The earth is our common heritage, upon which our future development relies. Sustainable development will be achieved only if humankind accept the unique contribution of women and men as equal partners with a shared responsibility for the care of planet. Although both genders are equally dependent on the capacities of ecosystems, men and women's perception of the human relationship with nature are governed by tradition and their different gender related roles. Traditional rural women especially in Samburu land are nearer to nature than men. They almost have total dependency on the environment and therefore have realised that true development would not be achieved unless the environment is enhanced as this will enforce other kind of development in the area.

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