The Role of Women in Society
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Date
1998-02-16
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Women, Women in Society, anguage, Women in the Vatican, African Woman