Abstract available in pdf file.

This study has endeavored to find out socio-cultural factors that influence gender injustices with special focus on sexual and health reproductive rights of women in Swaziland community. It has further examined the extent to which Church Forum as ecumenical instrument has addressed these issues of concern. It has been argued that gender injustice in Swaziland is a result of multifaceted factors. In the first place, the model of governance stands at the apex in championing gender injustice while perpetuating the violation of women sexual and health reproductive rights. It has been found that Swaziland community has embraced a hybrid of both Western and traditional features of governance where the preeminence of the traditional element has been evident. Patriarchal dominance is the second another contributing factor to the plights of women’s gender injustice on issues of sexual and health reproductive rights. This has been compounded by polygamous marriage which is overwhelmingly evident and which is honored, respected and cherished throughout the community. Coupled with absolute poverty, a third factor, these are the critical factors that have significantly contributed to promoting gender injustice forcing most women to engage into a risk unhealthy sexual and reproductive behavior. The Church Forum, which stands as ecumenical instrument has made an intense attempt in addressing issues that affect the entire community of Swaziland, particularly women’s concern. However, this study has revealed that the church engagement has been narrowly limited to HIV and AIDS and food security. It is due to this deficiency of the church engagement into the broader perspective of gender inequalities, unhealthy women’s sexual and reproductive rights have persisted. In this regard, the study has suggested that the ecumenical body in Swaziland should take a more holistic life-affirming approach in order to address women’s gender concerns comprehensively. Such approach must begin with a re-envisioning ecumenical commitment while incorporating aspects of radical feminist approach in order to foster life-enhancing change in Swaziland Community, especially women sexual and health reproductive rights. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.

The concept of human dignity is a contested term but it is also vital in the world where there are many forms of violations that challenge human beings. The concept of human dignity is crucial in that it affects all spheres of life such as religion, employment, economics, politics and so on. The world of work is another area where several forms of oppression and exploitation are manifested and in the process the human dignity of workers is greatly compromised. As the world of work is a vast subject to be discussed in one dissertation, a specific area needs to be explored in order to understand violations of human dignity. In this regard, experiences of women in paid domestic work in Malawi provide an opportunity of understanding the violations of human dignity and ways in which theology can assist in promoting the concept of human dignity. The aim of this research project is to establish how the concept of human dignity can be promoted in women domestic work in Malawi. This dissertation is developed through the works of African women theology which is grouped within the family of liberation theologies. This research study uses theological underpinnings of African women theologians who belong to the Circle of Concerned Women African Theologians (hereinafter, the Circle). The prominent members of the Circle such as Musimbi Kanyoro, Mercy Oduyoye, Denise Ackerman, Isabel Phiri and Fulata Moyo just to mention a few, present theological insights that encompass a theoretical focus of human dignity. This concept of human dignity is needed both in the church and society. The study is based on the broad framework of African women theology with a special focus on the following concepts: feminist cultural hermeneutics, gender analysis, narrative theological discourses, partnership and prophetic witness. It is also appreciated that African women theologians do not isolate themselves from global feminism; as a result, works of Rebecca Chopp will also be used in this dissertation. In many cases forms of oppression that are manifested in women domestic service such as sexual violence and humiliation, economic exploitation and powerlessness are a result of violations of human dignity. Such violations have adverse effects on the life and general health of women who work in domestic service in Malawi. It is then suggested that a clear understanding and application of the concept of human dignity in African women theology serves as a tool for social transformation in women domestic service, that is, making workplaces for women domestic work to be favourable for women in Malawi and beyond in the 21st century. / Thesis (M.A.)--University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

This thesis explores the transformative potential of theological categories within Western Christianity. In particular, this thesis explores the categories of memory, narrative and solidarity and their relationship to the broader categories of history; language; and community. The relationships between these categories are engaged by way of critically comparing and contrasting the political theology of Johannes Baptist Metz and the feminist theological hermeneutics of Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza. This thesis traces the roots of these categories from the political theology of Johannes Baptist Metz and critically explores how the feminist theological hermeneutics of Schussler Fiorenza both uses and develops them. This exploration reveals the debt feminist theologies owe to political theology for the critical and emancipatory articulation of memory, narrative and solidarity. It also reveals important connections between memory, narrative and solidarity and the broader categories of history, language and community. Accordingly, this thesis explores the implications of a feminist engagement with the relationships between: history and memory; language and narrative; community and solidarity. By way of an intensification of the particular a critical feminist perspective more clearly extends the theological potential of these relationships and so illuminates their importance in a vitally -- and even radically -- new way. In the work of Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza this extension is most clearly expressed through her critique of the kyriarchal socio-religious structures of Western culture and society which she grounds by way of a particular focus the church as the ekklesia of women. Accordingly, this thesis is divided into six chapters. Chapter One positions feminist theologies within the broader tradition of Western culture and society. Chapter Two briefly traces the historical, philosophical and theological heritage of political and feminist theologies as theologies of social critique. Chapter Three examines the contemporary historical consciousness of Western society and deals with the concerns feminist theologies have with Western history. In understanding history as both the liberative and oppressive story of human agency this chapter explores the use of memory as a tool for the emancipation of Christian history. In Chapter Four we look at the formative power of language as the medium through which humanity understands existence and reality. By way of a feminist critique, this chapter explores how language can operate to both facilitate and inhibit the liberative stories of the Christian tradition. Chapter Five examines the basic vision and structure of community. Here, the conditions that help foster women's solidarity and contribute to the nurturing of authentic relationships and vital Christian communities are explored. Chapter Six reviews Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza's contribution to the transformative potential of the theological categories of memory, narrative and solidarity and offers two general critiques for further discussion. Chapter Six then concludes this thesis by engaging both Metz and Schussler Fiorenza in a critical-rhetorical reading of their work.

Thesis (S.T.M.)--Yale Divinity School, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-95).

Thesis (M. A. in Religion)--Vanderbilt University, May 2009. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Project (D. Min.)--Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, 1988. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 282-286).

Project (D. Min.)--Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, 1988. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-120).

Project (D. Min.)--Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, 1988. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 282-286).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 249-260).