Mary as a Symbol of Inspiration for the Empowerment of Southern African Christian Women Disproportionately Infected/Affected by HIV and Aids

Bibliographic Data

ID20209610
AuthorsGodfrey Chigumira (corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume12
Issue2
Pages117-138
Publication date2014-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueBlack Theology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1476-9948 • E-ISSN: 1743-1670
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1179/1476994814z.00000000025
OpenAlexW1966392978
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited7

This article proposes a liberative Mariological model for Southern African Christian women disproportionately infected/affected by HIV and AIDS. Taking encouragement from assertions by feminists of Mariology on how the symbol of the mother of Jesus has inspired women’s empowerment worldwide, this paper advocates Mary’s utilization as an inspirational symbol for Southern African Christian women’s empowerment against HIV and AIDS. This paper reflects on how Mary interacts with some Southern African communities and proceeds to illustrate how she could be utilized for empowerment within Southern African. Using analogy, under the themes of “Mary as mother,” “mother of sorrows,” “virgin,” “revolutionary,” “a symbol for women’s healing rituals,” and “Mary’s bodily role at the incarnation,” this work draws parallels between the empowered Mary and Southern African Christian women often lacking power. The parallels are drawn to help visualize the possibility of empowerment and to motivate both the women and the society to fight for transformation and liberation

Empowerment · Parallels · Political science · Sociology · Christian Theology and Mission · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy · Religion, Society, and Development · South African History and Culture

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