Open AccessOF GOD’S IMAGE, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND FEMINIST REFLECTIONS
Author(s) -
Sidney K. Berman
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
studia historiae ecclesiasticae
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2412-4265
pISSN - 1017-0499
DOI - 10.25159/2412-4265/109
Subject(s) - christianity , connection (principal bundle) , human sexuality , gender studies , sociology , psychology , religious studies , philosophy , engineering , structural engineering
This article interrogates what appears to be an inconsistency – the enduring prevalence of Christianity and the surge of gender-based violence (henceforth GBV) in Botswana, particularly as evidenced by murder-suicides. It investigates the possibility of a connection between Christianity and GBV. To search for such a connection, I used a feminist analytical approach to analyse the text of Hosea, Christian/Biblical teachings relating to gender and traditional Setswana socialisation. The book of Hosea, some Biblical teachings and some aspects of Setswana culture separate men and women in dualistic terms, present women as inferior to men, perceive women’s sexuality as devious, and prescribe violent control of women. Since this flawed outlook is evident in GBV in Botswana, I was led to investigate a hypothetical connection between GBV and Christian/ Biblical teaching. The article ends with recommendations for a response and for reconstructing a gender-empowering alternative.