The Ideal and Practice of Gender Equality of the Bahal Community In Addis Ababa
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Date
2007-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the numerical representation and participation of women in relation to men in the Local Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'í community in Addis Ababa. On top, it was also intended to single out the understanding of the community on gender equality and gender role issues in relation to the scriptures.
The thesis made use of qualitative methodology along with feminist research conception by making women participants at the centre of the research. The methods data collection employed were in-depth interviews, observations, Focus Group Discussions, and document review. Consequently, the data were organized into four themes. The first theme considered the representation of women and men in the Local Spiritual Assemblies. The second theme, focused on the understanding of the given community on gender equality. The thesis then moved on to gender role issues, with the third theme whereas the fourth theme discussed aspects of participation of women in relation to men in the decision-making process of the Local Spiritual Assemblies in the Bahá'í community in the Addis Ababa. The findings of this study demonstrated that even though the women's representation by numbers in the Local Spiritual Assemblies was considerable in comparison with their few numbers in the community, several factors-cultural and social as well as patriarchal ideology- hindered them from enjoying full participation in decision-making activities of their religious community. Besides, most of the impediments to women's participation in the Local Spiritual Assemblies and their religious community at large were related to the reality of the majority of women in Ethiopia except for the religious scripture, which gave them a relatively stronger basis to claim their rights. In addition, the thesis demonstrated the lack of unanimity as to what the perspective of gender equality in the religion have distanced the community from more radical forms of change with regard to restructuring gender power relations. On top, the persistence of traditional gender roles in the families in the community, made it impractical for women to engage themselves fully in the affairs of their religious community as the men members
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Gender Studies