Abstract
Abstract: Christianity should be a liberating and transformative resource in the defense of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Yet, Christianity's patriarchal grounding often invalidates the equal dignity and worth of women and girls. This paper seeks to re-read the annunciation story through the lens of African Women's theologies to unearth how scriptural texts and cultural values intersect to inhibit or affirm women's rights regarding sexual and reproductive health. The Church's focus on Mary's virginity as the rationale for perfect womanhood has resulted in control and shaming of women's sexuality. I ask, what needs to be done to ensure women's agency so that they feel empowered to reconfigure cultural and Christian values so that their sexual and reproductive health needs are attended to? What can be done to ensure that all genders have equal opportunities with regard to reproduction? The defense of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights is inherently an important ethical value within religion. It is thus hoped that the analysis will not only promote tolerance in accommodating various forms of sexualities and deconstructing patriarchal gender barriers to reproductive liberation and gender justice but also stir religious and cultural gatekeepers to partner with the other stakeholders in advocating for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).
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