Assignment

Concordia theological seminary

Subject: Discerning the signs of times:

theological methodologies for the
margins

Topic: Hegemony and patriarchy:

exclusion of women

Submitted to: rev justin raj

Submitted by: santhakumar. d.h
Class: bd 2nd year
INTRODUCTION
Discerning the signs of the time is a critical aspect of Christian theology, as it
enables believers to understand and respond to the needs of the marginalized and
oppressed. The Bible teaches that Christians are called to be salt and light in the
world, and to advocate for justice and compassion in all aspects of life. However,
in a world where hegemony and patriarchy dominate, the voices and experiences
of women and other marginalized groups are often excluded or silenced. As a
result, it is essential to develop theological methodologies that prioritize the
perspectives and experiences of those on the margins, and to challenge the
dominant cultural and social norms that perpetuate exclusion and oppression. In
this context, the topic of discerning the signs of the time takes on a new level of
significance, as it requires Christians to engage in a critical analysis of the world
around them, and to develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which power
and privilege operate to exclude and marginalize certain groups.
Hegemony and patriarchy
Hegemony: Hegemony refers to a nation's dominance over another. According
to Gramsci, hegemony is when society agrees with the ideology of the ruling
class, which leads to people giving up their rights. Hegemony is a relationship of
agreement based on political and ideological leadership, rather than a relationship
of dominance based on power (Siswati, 2018). Thus, hegemony is the ruling
class's victory, which is achieved by a consensual procedure including numerous
socio-political forces (Siswati, 2018). Furthermore, in succeeding hegemony,
Gramsci (1999, p. 525) also states that every State is ethical in as much as one of
its most important functions is to raise the great mass of the population to a
particular cultural and moral level, a level (or type) which corresponds to the
needs of the productive forces for development, and hence to the interests of the
ruling classes. In reality, a multitude of other so-called private initiatives and
activities tend to the same end—initiatives and activities which form the
apparatus of the political and cultural hegemony of the ruling classes. More
directly, the ideology these forces have generated and which has become part of
what Gramsci calls “common sense.” This last term is used by Gramsci to mean
the uncritical and largely unconscious way of perceiving and understanding the
world that has become ‘‘common” in any given epoch1.
Patriarchy: Patriarchy, according to Walby (2014), is a set of societal structures
and practices that men use to oppress, exploit, and subjugate women. As a leading

1
Naufina, Nurin.” The portrayal of hegemony and patriarchy in louise o’ neill’s only ever yours”. Poineer.
2021: 173 - 186
British sociologist, Walby puts her ultimate concern upon the issue of patriarchy.
In Theorizing Patriarchy, Walby (2014) divides patriarchy into several structures.
This patriarchal structure goes on and on by transmitting the tendency of gender
inequality practices. According to Walby, the patriarchal structures occur in paid
work, in which such patriarchal relationships exist in the form of separation of
women's and men's work positions and salary differences, patriarchal production
mode which is in the form of full assignments for women in caring for children
and doing household tasks, the patriarchal state which is in the form of the
women’s absence in the government influential positions and the limited number
of women who possess a role in law and politics, patriarchal relations in sexuality
which is defined as heterosexuality, both in terms of common origins and internal
structures such as double standards, male violence in which it is related to male
violence in the form of physical, psychological, and verbal violence and
patriarchal culture which is in the form of such 'ideal feminine' demands for
women in the family, education, religion, and mass media2.

Theological Methodologies for Addressing Exclusion of women

Theological methodologies for addressing women's exclusion are essential for
promoting gender justice and equality in the church and society. These
methodologies provide a framework for analysing and addressing the complex
issues surrounding women's exclusion, and for developing strategies for
promoting women's empowerment and inclusion. In this context, several
theological methodologies can be employed to address women's exclusion,
including feminist theology, liberation theology, contextual theology, and
postcolonial theology.
Feminist
Feminist theology is a theological methodology that emphasizes the importance
of women's experiences and perspectives in shaping our understanding of God
and the world. This approach recognizes that women's experiences are not
peripheral to the Christian narrative, but rather are central to our understanding
of the gospel and its implications for human life. Feminist theology challenges
the dominant patriarchal structures and ideologies that have historically excluded
women from positions of power and decision-making, and seeks to promote
women's empowerment and inclusion in all aspects of church and society. By

22
Naufina, Nurin.” The portrayal of hegemony and patriarchy in louise o’ neill’s only ever yours”. Poineer.
2021: 173 - 186
emphasizing the importance of women's experiences and perspectives, feminist
theology provides a critical framework for analysing and addressing the complex
issues surrounding women's exclusion3.
Liberation Theology
Liberation theology is a theological methodology that prioritizes the experiences
of the marginalized and oppressed, and seeks to empower them to challenge and
transform the dominant systems and structures that perpetuate their exclusion and
oppression. This approach recognizes that the gospel is not just a message of
personal salvation, but also a call to social justice and transformation. Liberation
theology challenges the dominant ideologies and structures that perpetuate
women's exclusion, and seeks to promote women's empowerment and inclusion
in all aspects of church and society. By prioritizing the experiences of the
marginalized and oppressed, liberation theology provides a critical framework for
analysing and addressing the complex issues surrounding women's exclusion4.
Contextual Theology
Contextual theology is a theological methodology that recognizes that theology
is shaped by cultural and social contexts, and seeks to develop theologies that are
relevant to the lives of women and other marginalized groups. This approach
recognizes that the experiences and perspectives of women and other
marginalized groups are not uniform, but rather are shaped by their unique
cultural and social contexts. Contextual theology challenges the dominant
Western theological traditions, and seeks to develop theologies that are rooted in
the experiences and perspectives of women and other marginalized groups. By
recognizing the importance of cultural and social contexts, contextual theology
provides a critical framework for analysing and addressing the complex issues
surrounding women's exclusion5.
Postcolonial Theology
Postcolonial theology is a theological methodology that challenges the dominant
Western theological traditions, and seeks to develop theologies that are rooted in
the experiences and perspectives of non-Western cultures and societies. This
approach recognizes that the gospel has been used to justify colonialism and
imperialism, and seeks to promote a more nuanced and contextual understanding
of the gospel and its implications for human life. Postcolonial theology challenges
the dominant ideologies and structures that perpetuate women's exclusion, and

3
https://www.britannica.com/ topic/feminist-theology
4
https://www.socialjustice.com/ articles/liberation-theology-a-Chris tian-perspective
5
https://www.encyclopedia.com/ religion/encyclopedias-alma nacs-transcripts-and-maps/ contextual- theology
seeks to promote women's empowerment and inclusion in all aspects of church
and society. By challenging the dominant Western theological traditions,
postcolonial theology provides a critical framework for analysing and addressing
the complex issues surrounding women's exclusion6.
Biblical Perspective on Women's Roles
The Bible teaches that men and women are created equal in the image of God
(Genesis 1:27). Jesus' ministry and teachings emphasized the importance of
women's participation and inclusion in the kingdom of God (Luke 10:38-42, John
4:1-42). However, throughout history, women have been excluded from positions
of power and marginalized in society.
Christian Response to Exclusion of Women
As Christians, we are called to respond to the exclusion of women in a way that
is grounded in our faith and values. The Bible teaches us that all people are
created in the image of God and are worthy of dignity and respect, regardless of
their gender, race, or social status. In response to the exclusion of women,
Christians can take several steps:
1. Recognize and acknowledge the problem: The first step in responding to the
exclusion of women is to recognize and acknowledge the problem. This involves
recognizing the ways in which women have been excluded from positions of
power and decision-making, and acknowledging the harm that this has caused.
2. Listen to and amplify the voices of women: Christians can listen to and
amplify the voices of women, particularly those who have been marginalized and
excluded. This involves creating spaces for women to share their stories and
experiences, and using our platforms and privilege to amplify their voices.
3. Challenge patriarchal structures and ideologies: Christians can challenge
the patriarchal structures and ideologies that have contributed to the exclusion of
women. This involves recognizing the ways in which these structures and
ideologies have been used to justify the exclusion of women, and working to
dismantle them.
4. Promote women's leadership and decision-making: Christians can promote
women's leadership and decision-making by creating opportunities for women to
take on leadership roles and to participate in decision-making processes.

6
https://www.cambridge.org/ core/journals/ journal-of-ecumenical-studies/ article/postcolonial-theology/
4F6B5A9B34D44C159B4B34D44
5. Support women's education and economic empowerment: Christians can
support women's education and economic empowerment by providing access to
education and economic resources, and by promoting policies and practices that
support women's economic empowerment.
6. Address violence against women: Christians can address violence against
women by providing support and resources to survivors of violence, and by
working to prevent violence against women.
7. Promote women's spiritual empowerment: Christians can promote women's
spiritual empowerment by providing opportunities for women to develop their
spiritual gifts and to participate in spiritual leadership and decision-making.

Biblical Foundations for Christian Response

The Bible provides a rich foundation for Christian response to the exclusion of
women. Some key biblical principles and passages that inform our response
include:
1. Imago Dei: The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God
(Genesis 1:27), and are therefore worthy of dignity and respect.
2. Galatians 3:28: This passage teaches that there is no longer male or female,
but that all people are one in Christ.
3. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: This passage teaches that the body of Christ is made
up of many different members, and that each member is important and valued.
4. Matthew 25:31-46: This passage teaches that we will be judged based on how
we treat the most vulnerable members of society, including women and children.
5. Proverbs 31:8-9: This passage teaches that we should speak up for those who
cannot speak for themselves, and that we should defend the rights of the poor and
needy.

Christian Organizations and Networks

There are many Christian organizations and networks that are working to promote
women's empowerment and inclusion. Some examples include:
1. The World Council of Churches: The World Council of Churches is a global
fellowship of churches that promotes women's empowerment and inclusion, and
provides a platform for women's voices and perspectives to be heard.
2. The Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians: The Ecumenical
Association of Third World Theologians is a network of theologians from the
Global South that promotes contextual and liberation theology, and provides a
platform for women's voices and perspectives to be heard.
3. The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians: The Circle of
Concerned African Women Theologians is a network of African women
theologians that promotes women's empowerment and inclusion, and provides a
platform for women's voices and perspectives to be heard.
4. The Asian Women's Resource Center: The Asian Women's Resource Center
is a network of Asian women that promotes women's empowerment and
inclusion, and provides a platform for women's voices and perspectives to be
heard.
5. The Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Network: The Latin
American and Caribbean Feminist Network is a network of feminist activists and
scholars that promotes women's empowerment and inclusion, and provides a
platform for women's voices and perspectives to be heard.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the exclusion of women in a patriarchal society is a significant
issue that requires a theological response. By employing theological
methodologies such as feminist theology, liberation theology, contextual
theology, and postcolonial theology, we can develop a deeper understanding of
the experiences of women and other marginalized groups. As Christians, we are
called to advocate for women's rights, empower women's leadership, challenge
patriarchal norms, and support women's education and economic empowerment.
Bibliography
1. Nurin, Naufina. "The Portrayal of Hegemony and Patriarchy in Louise O'Neill's
Only Ever Yours." Pioneer 13, no. 2 (2021): 173-186.

Webliography
1.https://www.britannica.com/ topic/feminist-theology
2.https://www.socialjustice.com/ articles/liberation-theology-a-chris tian-
perspective
3.https://www.encyclopedia.com/ religion/encyclopedias-alma nacs-transcripts-
and-maps/ contextual-theology
4.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-ecumenical-studies/
article/postcolonial-theology/ 4F6B5A9B34D44C159B4B34D44