Feminisation of Sin : A Cultural Challenge on Womanhood

Abstract

In Genesis 2-3, the story of Eve in the Garden of Eden has served as a major tool in the justification of women as evil, seductive, temptress, and the subordination of women. This paper explores the concept of creation and fall (sin) of humanity both in the biblical and some African creation myths. It also underscores the prevalent belief of all subsequent women as daughters of Eve and thus, responsible for bringing evil and death into the world. This perception of women and Eve has endured with remarkable tenacity and persists today as a major stumbling block in attempts by women to correct gender-based inequalities. The paper argues that the downgraded status of women stemmed from the patriarchal society of the Hebrews and the African cultural worldview at large. It examines the African biblical interpretation method which is a biblical interpretation that analysis the biblical text from the perspective of African worldview and culture and has set out to examine the perceived role of Eve and subsequent women in the introduction of original sin both biblical and at the African cultural level. This paper explores this methodology in order to re-appraise ancient biblical tradition, African cultural worldview and life experience with the purpose of correcting the effect of the negative cultural ideological conditioning to which women have been subjected. This paper advocates for a feminist reconsideration along with the existing traditional interpretation of the fall of man in the biblical book of Genesis 2-3 and in African myths on the origin of sin.