25 Jul 2013

Gender Issue: Challenges of Change, Faith and Development -2012


Gender Issue: Challenges of Change, Faith and Development
ECC Whitefield, Bangalore Oct: 08-10, 2012

Welcome: Rev. Dr. Reji Samuel, ECC, welcomed the participants to the event. In his introductory speech, stressed upon the need for this consultation on gender issues in the current social situation. He also explained the program structure, a briefing on the schedule and facilities available for the participants at ECC.
Inauguration: Rev.Dr. Cherian Thomas, Director ECC. Looking at the program schedule of the event, the Director stressed the need to understand, analyze and bring about changes to the gender situation, by applying the attitude of Jesus Christ, and thoroughly read the activities of Jesus, as elaborated in the New Testament.
Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, VIDS (Vellore Institute of Development Studies) greeted all the participants and congratulated ECC for organizing this gender consultation, and he felt this to be a very important initiative.
Rev. J. R. Paul Singh, Deputy Director, ECC, provided an introduction on the origin, and activities of the ECC. The core philosophy of ECC is “All human beings are one irrespective of caste, creed, religion or community”.
Session I: Women, Culture, Development & Social change: Emerging issues and debates
Dr.Jayachitra, Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai
Key Points elaborated in this address:
  • Differences between men and women are of two kinds: a) biological differences termed as sex b) Social differences termed as gender roles, based on social norms and practices
  • Empowerment of social change is a reality and this reflected by peoples’ movements in environment, gender equality, through these movements concept of creative society emerges, in which contradictions become articulate and active
  • Empowerment of women for social change requires development of inner strength and control. Productive power creates new possibilities and actions without domination, and further power exercised with a sense of whole well being of individuals and societies.
Session II: Role of Religion in Promoting Rights & Welfare of Women- A critique
Dr.Jayachitra , Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai
Key Points:
  • First Creation story in Genesis considers equality of man and woman, equality of human beings, the second creation story in Genesis states that Woman was created from Man, after God created Man on his own image, whereas the Hebrew Scriptures states “Woman as Covenant” playing a complimentary role to man without ideas of domination or subordination to man. In Jesus, we can realize the Agency of Humanity and equality of women
  • Role of Church to change from being a Power Center to an Agency of Social change to break social distinctions based on gender.
Session III – Women, Media & Globalization-Dr Annie W.S., GLTC , Chennai
  • History of Media: Mass media is 500 years old, and consists mainly of newspapers, magazines, television, radio, movies, internet, mobile phones, facebook, and emails
  • Globalization: a phenomenon that crosses and erases geographical and political borders. It is about concentration of profit and power in certain parts of the world and with certain people
  • Women in Media: Mass media portrays women as home-based, submissive, sex objects, dependent on men and other roles given to them, Mass media moulds the perception, attitudes, opinions, behaviours, habits, lifestyle of the consumers
Solutions and Peoples’ strategies for Media:
  • Develop a non-commercial culture to inform the public ,Offer critique and evaluation of existing structures
  • Make use of media for peoples’ benefit for educational, entertainment, and information purposes and build counter culture and media with Christian values
Session IV  Role of Laws in Gender Empowerment: A critique-Dr. Sarasu Esther Thomas, NLSI, Bangalore
  • Personal Law:  Though by Constitution of India, Men and Women are equal in all respects as citizens, the constitution mandates equality before the Law and equal protection of the Law, however, there are differences in Personal Law relating to gender based on Religion, Sex, Caste, Geography, Local customs, and Tribal Laws
Issues pertaining to Public–Private Divide: The way forward is law, policy and society working together
9th October 2012
Session V- Equality of Man and Woman as reflected in Genesis 1 and 2  
Bible Study: Rev. Dr.R.L. Hnuni, Mizoram
  • She emphasized that the two creation stories provide bibilical basis for equality of men and women.
  • Adam was created in God’s image and God’s likeness, which is often misunderstood and distorted as man alone bears God’s image but woman does not
  • Adham consists of male and female hence woman as well man has God’s image and likeness and has equal essence, that should not be distorted
  • The view of women has been grossly mis-interpreted, by Saint Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas, as they have understood the Genesis story in a male biased manner. “Fit for Him” is often misinterpreted as connoting inferiority of woman. The Hebrew word for helper is ezer carries no subordinate connotation.
  • The Genenis 2 the word “helper fit for him” Rather it is a word used for God only, hence it has dignity of high status.
  • “Fit for him” in Hebrew is “Kenegdo” which means equal to him, “opposite to him” or “corresponding to him”, it does not have any subordinate connotation. Hence woman has a high and dignified place in God’s creation.
  • The name of Adam’s wife is “Hawa” which means living or life, it is wrongly rendered Eve the origin of which is difficult to trace
  • The need of the hour is to correctly understand the scriptures as God bestowing equal rights and faculties to man and woman without concepts of domination or inferiority for the female gender.
Session VI- Issue face by Girl Child in India
Prof. Dr. Nalini Arles, UTC
  • Female infanticide, pre-natal sex determination, discrimination against female child, malnutrition, lack of education, absence of medical care are the common issues faced by girl children in India. Equal access to employment, income and social status largely denied to girl child.
Session VI- Violence against Women
Ms. Celine, Vimochana
Violence against women occurs at various levels starting with the family in terms of discrimination, sex abuse, child labour, child marriage, child widows. At the community level women are treated as sex objects of gratification, and sole purpose of woman is to serve male masters. At the government level, policies, judiciary, law enforcement is biased against women, and the implementations of women protection laws are very poor. Religion also accords secondary status to women and does not provide equal access to God, and worship.
Session VII- Role of Women in Church & Society in North East-Issues and challenges
Rev.Dr. Hnuni, Mizoram
  • With few exceptions the 8 states of North East are primarily patriarchal in nature, and women are abused, neglected, mal-nourished. Derogatory terms are used to refer to women, and even in matrilineal societies, men dominate behind the scenes, despite formal inheritance accorded to women. The church at the community level is bringing changes, while higher authorities in the Church are unwilling and resistant to providing equal access to women.
Session VIII- Panel Discussion- Gender Issues
Islam – Ms Reshma Pervez, Disabled persons- Ms Madhu Singhal, Tribal – Ms Atula Tzudir, Nagaland
The muslim women are discriminated, with strict enforcement of dress code, early adolescent marriages, and rural muslim women lack access to education and employment
Disabled – The women with disability suffer from multiple discrimination- Physical, social, gender based, and even among the disabled there is gender bias in providing relief and rehabilitation to women. Women centric institutions to cater to physically disabled women is absent across the country, the serious efforts from community, government and NGO’ s are required to rectify the situation.
Tribal (Nagaland) – As in other parts of  North East , Nagaland is male dominated society, and women bear the brunt of rape in the course of tribal wars, and government armed forces. Wide spread discrimination at home, work place, education is prevalent
Session IX – Response to Gender Issues in the Early Church: Bible Study
Rev Dr. Allan P, UTC, Bangalore
  • Critical reading of the scripture is necessary to un-entangle the messages
  • Recognize the conflicting women domination v/s women equality portrayals in Genesis, Revelation, and in the New Testament Corinthians
  • Recognize that there have been deliberate attempt to relegate secondary role to women in the creation / propagation of Biblical texts
Session X – Towards a Holistic understanding of Gender
Rev Dr.Cherian Thomas
  • Man and woman belong to a single humanity in the eyes of God
  • Man and woman are joint heirs of the Grace of Life
  • Both Man and Woman are Preists and chosen race, should not be interpreted in the scriptures are signifying chosen race belonging to only Man or a single race / nation.
  • Practice of domination, women’s’ subjugation leads to Loss of Unity and loss of eternal life and salvation.
  • In the Unity of Christ all men and women are equal there are no distinctions of man / woman, slave or master

Proposal / Resolution from participants of the National Conference of Gender:
Individual Level:

  • Take measures to develop Gender sensitivity, and critical outlook towards current customs and practices in our homes, churches, organization.
  • Educate family members on gender issues
  • Conduct all family and community decisions based on gender justice and equality
  • Refuse sex determination, and resolve not to practice infanticide
  • Stop all gender discrimination at the work place and provide equal access to income, promotions and career
Family Level:
  • Stop all discrimination towards female gender, girl child
  • Provide equal access to male and female members in medical care, nutrition
  • Inculcate the culture of providing pre-marital counseling and sex education to both male and female members of the family.
  • Provide support for the girl child for education, employment and empowerment
  • Oppose domestic violence- verbal, emotional, moral and physical
  • Report abuses to the authorities without fear or favor
  • Encourage female children, to decide on education, career and marriage and practice a non-interference policy, restore the reproductive rights to women
Community Level (Church & other organizations)
  • Educate and sensitize the community
  • Fight for the equal right for women
  • Implement all women friendly laws , policies and programs designed by the government at all levels starting at the village panchayat / municipal corporation
  • Encourage women to actively participate in community affairs including elections and political office
  • Build discussion forums to build dialogue with social, political, spiritual organizations, to empower women
  • Support womens’ movements towards equal opportunity and rights
  • Strictly enforce women protection laws, form vigilante groups to monitor abuses, violence
  • Irrespective of religious denomination, fight for the rights of women to provide equal access and opportunities in religious institutions and ensure equal social status,
  • In the current situation, we need to promote advocacy for establishment of women’s’ shelters, hostels and employment facilities for women who are victims of domestic violence / abuses at the village / urban wards
  • Launch peoples’ movement for realization of 50% opportunities in all government, non-government, spiritual, social  and educational organizations, and not treat this as a reservation system, but as an inalienable right of the women citizens of India. Particular focus must be devoted to catering to the needs of the displaced, dispossessed and marginalized women
  • Advocacy campaigns to be launched to force government to allocate budget, funds and sponsor programs to promote gender sensitivity, familiarize population with legal recourse in case of discrimination / violence / abuse.
  • Legal reforms need to be initiated to provide free, fair, easy and transparent legal help for victims of discrimination
  • Build citizens groups to monitor implementation of women protection and promotion policies / programs and report non-compliance and misuse to authorities as in the case of enabling disabled women to reclaim their rights and privileges.



























RESOLUTION:
The National Consultation expresses its solidarity to all womens’ movements in India especially to  Irom Sharmila who protesting against Army atrocities in Manipur, Womens’ movement in Koodankulam against the Koodankuam nuclear plant, and at Vilappil Sala in Trivandrum. We express solidarity and support to all peoples’ movements, across a wide range of issues from environmental concerns, womens’ equality, tribal womens’ struggle for sustainable livelihood, among many other issues.


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