}
General Arrangement of Society
}
Arrangement of African Traditional Society & the Place of Women in Society (Pre & Post Intervention)
}
Contributions of Women’s Religious Congregations to the Empowerment of African Women
}
Voices of Women
}
Implications of the Empowering Mission
Society revolves around:
Economics Religion/Ideology Politics Whoever occupies these positions becomes an elite of society
Important Elements: } Market
Economy
◦ gives stability to society/determines the kind of ruler/ governance } Religion/Religious
Leaders
◦ mediate between human and gods ◦ bind the society together } Politics
} God
is both male and female
◦ goddess protects the communities and provides for needs } Priests,
diviners, and healers (mostly female) ◦ sanctioned by God and legitimized by the people ◦ mediate between God and humans (Uko Chukwu)
◦ settle disputes and implement social sanctions/rewards
◦ Dominated by women è subsistence farming/trading ◦ Land è gift from God entrusted to community ◦ Land source of capital è venerated as woman (earth goddess) ◦ Man and woman ècustodians of land ◦ Women è control food production and market ◦ Priest and priestess è cleanse the land
Power is: ◦
divine & given to virtuous persons irrespective of gender
Political system:
◦ dual sex è parallel organization for both genders e.g. Umuada/ Umunna, Chief/Lolo etc.
Leadership depends on: ◦ ability to take care of family
◦ contributions to community development ◦ Exceptional display of talent/achievement (not monetary)
Hierarchy by:
◦ age, lineage, achievements
Decision making/community conflicts : ◦ facilitated by traditional and religious leaders ◦ titled men and women and council of elders ◦ Talented man and women
Social power of women depends on: ◦ whether they are wives, mothers, or sisters ◦ number of children While a woman can be discriminated against as a wife, she has power as a daughter or a sister.
Flexibility in gender system in ATS ◦ female can be classified as male è institution
daughter and female husband. ◦ lack of he/ she lexicon in language
of male
Everyone is responsible for community well-being Social control based on social norms, customs, and social sanctions When one’s right hand washes the left, the left washes the right; both hands become clean
(Nigerian Proverb)
Disorganized African Traditional Society by:
◦ tipping power in favored of males ◦ concentrating authority in the hands of men ◦ deposing leaders and creating new ones ◦ shifting from farm economy to salaried job ◦ requiring accreditation and certification from colonial administrators Consequently, women are disempowered
Indirect Rule:
◦ Decision making in the hands of colonial administrators and their African allies “warrant chiefs” and local chiefs ◦ Codification of cultural norms into customary law ◦ Social control determined by men ◦ Exclusion of women from conflict management Women are no longer involved in governance
Introduction of male centered religion: ◦ Genderless African Religion èGendered Religion
◦ Genderless God è Male God Accreditation and certification in religious, affairs Religious training concentrated on males Women lost power and offices as priestesses, diviners and healers.
◦ Farm economy è Civil Service/Salary ◦ Introduction of legal forms of property rights
◦ Industrialized farm è men became “new farmers” ◦ Exportation and importation of cash crops èsubsistence farming ◦ Education for men for middle caliber jobs (3Rs)
◦ Men dominate market/economy Women denied access to market and capital
Urban Migration: Working class men move to urban centers Children to boarding school Wives move with husbands and are economically DEPENDENT on them Loss of capital, especially for women in rural areas Loss of economic independence New forms of control over women.
◦ Narrow educational gap between genders ◦ Integrate women into new economic, political, religious, and health systems ◦ Prepare and assist women to re-enter the new social system & become wage earners ◦ Provide women with certification & accreditation to participate in governance as teachers, nurses, religious leaders, business owners, politicians etc
Basic Education ◦ Primary & Secondary è Character formation and teaching of 3Rs, preparation for higher education ◦ Home Economics and Skill Training è Self-financing ◦ Teacher Training è Produce women teachers/ school administrators
◦ Health Education è Mid-wives and nurses ◦ Recruitment of Women into Religious Lifeè Leadership in the Church Mapped women out in terms of eligibility in the colonial structure
}
Sisters were powerful models and motivators è I did not hesitate to transfer the respect, love , and care I received from them to my children and those with whom I work
}
The objective of the sisters’ education is discipline: this is the key to my successful life.
}
Sisters gave every child, irrespective of ability or disability, a good education in order to be a responsible citizen.
}
Giving confidence to students is very important; we challenge these young people to give their best and not to accept complacency because they live in the villages, and feel that they have little to offer to society.
}
We gave them responsibility in the school environment to prepare them to take up leadership in society
}
Visiting girls’ groups in rural and urban areas was important means of building their self-esteem.
Solid foundation in Primary and Secondary education has led to: ◦ women in key leadership positions in African society ◦ formation of the Catholic Women’s Organization è strong women’s voices in African Catholic Church
Vocational Training Schools ◦ establishment of women’s cooperatives and women’s business ventures. ◦ health education è healthy children makes a healthy nation