Table of Contents Approval form……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….i Dedication……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ii Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….iii Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCING THE STUDY ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Area of Investigation ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Justification ................................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Aims and Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.5.1 Aim ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.5.2 Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 5 1.7 Approaches ................................................................................................................................... 5 1.7.1 Feminist Approach ................................................................................................................ 5 1.7.2 Comparative Method ............................................................................................................ 6 1.7.3 Methods of Data Collection .................................................................................................. 7 1.8 Literature Review .......................................................................................................................... 9 1.9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER TWO: THE WORKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MOTHER’S UNION DIOCESE OF HARARE14 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 14 2.1 History of worldwide Anglican mother’s union guild ................................................................. 14 2.1.1 Founder ............................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.2 First meeting and its spread throughout the world ............................................................ 15 2.2 The Anglican mother’s union guild of the diocese of Harare ..................................................... 17 2.2.1 Membership ........................................................................................................................ 17 2.2.2 Mothers’ union gatherings.................................................................................................. 18 2.2.3 Aims and objectives of the mothers’ union ........................................................................ 18 2.2.4 The mothers’ union prayer ................................................................................................. 19 v 2.3 Works of the women in the mothers’ union .............................................................................. 20 2.3.1 Social contributions ............................................................................................................. 20 2.4 Humanitarian .............................................................................................................................. 23 2.4.1 Financial Contributions ....................................................................................................... 25 2.4.2 Other Contributions ............................................................................................................ 26 2.4.3 The Commitment and sacrifice of Women as a contribution ............................................. 26 2.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER THREE: UNSUNG HEROINES: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ................................................... 28 MOTHERS’ UNION. ...................................................................................................................................... 28 3 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 28 3.1 Reasons why women are not celebrated ................................................................................... 28 3.1.1 CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ................................................................................................. 28 3.1.2 Socio-economic factors ....................................................................................................... 30 3.1.3 Women as their own “enemy” ........................................................................................... 31 3.1.4 Women in Church ............................................................................................................... 31 3.1.5 Women in Politics ............................................................................................................... 32 3.1.6 The failure of the church to address gender issues ............................................................ 34 3.2 Women as sung heroines ............................................................................................................ 34 3.2.1 Women as churchwardens ................................................................................................. 35 3.2.2 Women as sub deacons ...................................................................................................... 36 3.2.3 Women at diocesan leadership hierarchy .......................................................................... 36 3.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER FOUR: LUKE 8 AS A STANDARD TO REHABILITATE THE IMAGE AND PLACE OF WOMEN IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. ............................................................................................................................ 38 4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 38 4.1 Gender and gender roles ............................................................................................................ 38 4.2 Roles and treatment of women in first century Palestine .......................................................... 39 4.3 Women of Luke 8:1-3 .................................................................................................................. 40 4.3.1 Women as economic providers .......................................................................................... 40 4.3.2 Women as disciples ............................................................................................................. 41 4.3.3 Women as travelers with Jesus and their sacrifice ............................................................. 42 4.4 Gender and gender roles ............................................................................................................ 43 vi 4.5 Roles and treatment of women in first century Palestine .......................................................... 44 4.5.1 Women as house keepers ................................................................................................... 44 4.5.2 Women as income producers ............................................................................................. 45 4.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER FIVE: ANALYSIS, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION .................................................. 47 5 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 47 5.1 Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 47 5.2 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 48 5.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 49 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................ 51 Primary sources....................................................................................................................................... 51 Interviews...............................................................................................................................................