Religion is a general phenomenon that occurs from ancient time to date. Religion has always been and will always be part of the history of civilization. In a simple language, Religion is, can be defined as a system of faith and worship, which provides adherents with meaning and purpose in their lives.
However, religion also a powerful institution which shapes gender relation. Gender would not be a problem if women and men were constructed in a fair way. However, in general, the construction is more favorable to men than to women. Different social norms and expectations of men and women have resulted in gender inequalities within our society.
In many case, religion is being used to perpetuate gender inequality, particularly where it is perpetuate perceptions of women’s role in family, society, politics and the workplace. Consequently, religion can also become one of the Religion can also become one of the important basis for discrimination, exclusion and/or marginalisation, subordination, violent and harmful practices towards women.
This religious based gender inequality is the ‘on-the-ground realilty” for many of us. It is an inescapable landscape for development. Religion is often used to deny the fundamental women’s human rights. It is used to justify women’s marginalisation in decision making positions, which in return has alienated women from participating and influencing civil and political lives.
For those reasons, Oxfam held an Action for Gender Relation in East Asia’s (AGRA) workshop on religion and gender inequalities in Bali (20-21/01) to reflect back on the problems and also share experiences and learn among participants from Oxfam situated in East Asia, particularly Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and also Cambodia.
AGRA is a networking event for Oxfam staffs in the Southeast East Asia region. For more than 10 years, Oxfam has held an annual capacity building workshop focusing on prevailing them pertinent to Gender.
Imelda
