Theological reflection on silencing and gender disenfranchisement

Abstract

Silence is not always an innocuous void of audible expression but may represent the outcome of persistent oppression from a dominant voice shrouding over the muffled voices of the less powerful through various silencing treatments. This article analyses the concept of gender disenfranchisement and silencing from a theological perspective, and uses, as a point of reflection, the case of clergywomen working in the male-dominated ecclesiastical system. This paper explores the prevalence of systemic silencing actions before focusing specifically on gender-related silencing treatments. Silencing is reflected upon by drawing examples from the Old Testament in search of some first steps to respond faithfully by participating with God in shattering such silences. One proposal to destabilise imposed silencing treatments is the practice of attentive attunement, which aims to acknowledge, amplify, and affirm the muffled voices of the oppressed.