INDIA
National Catholic Reporter – Global Sisters Report
by Virginia Saldanha Nov. 10, 2016 in Equality
News about the meeting:
• Christian women in India take steps to address clerical abuse cases
Men have been dominant as recipients, interpreters and transmitters of divine messages, while women have largely remained passive receivers of teachings and ardent practitioners of religious rituals. Attitudes developed around patriarchal interpretations of religious belief have defined and shaped the social and cultural contexts of Indian women resulting in their disempowerment and second-class status.
In India, where politics uses religion as a tool to manipulate the masses, women bear the brunt of the consequences of cultural attitudes and the impact of religion and politics in their particular milieu. Recognizing the influence of religion and culture on Indian women’s lives, Streevani (which means “voice of women”) took the initiative to organize a national consultation on the theme “Impact of Religion and Culture on Women’s Empowerment – An Indian Perspective.” About 50 people — women and men religious, theologians, professionals and a diocesan priest — attended the September 23-26 meeting in Hyderabad, India.
Within the overarching framework of patriarchy in the religious and social sphere, the core issues that emerged were: one, violence against women and, two, sexuality and the politics of gender.
“Women have internalized patriarchal Christianity. They are comfortable with just a little space that is given to them,” said Presentation Sr. and theologian Shalini Mulackal. The language, symbols and culturally conditioned interpretation of religious scriptures have evolved a practice that alienates women and even influences exploitation and violence towards them.
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