Righting her-story: Does the Bible justify sexism?

By NADINE WILSON All Woman writer

Monday, May 23, 2011

THE Bible has encouraged and inspired women around the world, but at least one educator believes that it has often been used to justify the injustice meted out to the fairer sex.

Speaking at the launch of, Righting Her-Story: Caribbean Women Encounter the Bible Story, Professor Sarojini Nadar said Caribbean feminist theologians are often suspicious of the patriarchal nature of the Bible.

"They are suspicious of the maleness of God, they are suspicious of the whiteness of God, they are suspicious of nameless biblical women; why are so many biblical women nameless? They are suspicious about the interpretations of the Bible which contributes to the oppression," said Nadar, the programme director for Gender and Religion and Academic Co-ordinator of Postgraduate Studies for the School of Religion and Theology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

The book is the first ecumenical book of Bible studies and biographies by Caribbean women. It discusses issues such as gender justice and partnership, marriage and family, violence against women, leadership and power, beauty and personal empowerment. Several of the authors have also explored ways in which the Bible has promoted colonialism, racism and sexism.

Executive Director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs, Faith Webster, feels the book is very relevant and helps people to study the Bible through gendered lens.

"It speaks to specific gender issues such as gender-based violence, and provides opportunities for the least experienced of our dynamic and salient Caribbean women," said Webster.

She said that while Caribbean women have played active roles in the home and the community, "the spiritual experiences and voices of many Caribbean women have been largely underrepresented in historical records of faith-based organisations."

Hermione McKenzie from the Jamaica Women's Political Caucus, said she was pleased with the contents of the book that explored issues such as family life and sexuality.

"Those are the things that women I think very much need to speak about," she said.

All the writers of the book are lay or ordained women from Baptist, Congregational Evangelical, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Reformed and United traditions, mainly hailing from the Caribbean region.

Righting Her-Story: Caribbean Women Encounter the Bible Story also includes biographies of pioneering women within the Caribbean church, including Reverend Dr Marjorie Lewis, first woman president of the United Theological College of the West Indies. Also featured are Reverend Dr Adlyn White — the first woman trained for ministry by the Baptist church; Reverend Winifred Rhoden-Rutherford — the first woman ordained by the former Disciples of Christ in Jamaica; and inner-city community activist Mama Joy.

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Righting her-story: Does the Bible justify sexism?