Abstract
The aim of this paper is to try and find out the real meaning of man’s (male) headship of women, since that can help us to define the deep meaning of gender equality. A brief historical background will be followed by exegetical remarks on Ephesians 5:21-22 which is one of the texts that explains something about the concept of “headship of man”. Secondly, the meaning will help us to shape our understanding as to how we should handle the issue of women’s rights and gender equality in African Christian churches and families. The challenges that are faced by women because of the misunderstanding of the concept of headship will also be discussed. The movement of feminist theology and other movements are becoming vocal in African countries, because women feel that it is the church and the Bible which promote the subjection of women. Fiorenza (1986:67) says that oppression of women in society is a result of Christian male sexist theology.
Highlights
In 2004 we celebrated a decade of democracy in South Africa, a democracy which completely denounces any form of discrimination, including the abuse of women
I was moved by the man who said earlier this year: “I do not understand why I am arrested for beating my own wife, because she must submit herself to me since I paid lobolo for her” (City Press, 18 Feb, 2007)
We need to understand that the main reason for the abuse is that the man believes that traditionally the woman’s duty is to submit herself blindly to the man
Summary
In 2004 we celebrated a decade of democracy in South Africa, a democracy which completely denounces any form of discrimination, including the abuse of women. The most worrying issue is that even though the country is trying its best to integrate women in our society, some African churches and Christian males are still dominating women, using some biblical passages to defend their actions It is within the very same democratic society where we have men who see women as their subjects to an extent that they still. The word “submit”, which is not foreign to the scriptures, is misused to justify men abusing women. It is well-known that different churches have their own constitutions and laws, but what must be done if the same scripture is abused by the very people who should be defending it?
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