New Directions in Gender and Religion: The Changing Status of Women in African Independent Churches

by Brigid M. Sackey

Overview

Brigid M. Sackey's book is a comprehensive analysis of gender relations in religion in Ghana, using gendered anthropological tools of rare insight and originality. The book chronicles the efforts of men and women who bring a repackaged and customized Christianity and health delivery to meet with the specific cultural needs. Sackey disabuses notions of the helplessness of women in Ghana specifically (and Africa in general) as it highlights women's initiatives and assertiveness as healers and leaders of the churches they have founded, in addition to their increased involvement and participation in gender discourses and social change. Sackey also addresses the question of HIV and the AIDS epidemic, detailing how the churches, through the specific leadership of women, are supporting a national campaign on the disease. Basing her research on an exhaustive library of oral history, ethnography, theory, and case studies, Sackey has brilliantly chronicled the relentless proliferation of and innovations in African Independent Churches, and their impact on the national health delivery system and its development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739110584
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	03/20/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.29(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.92(d)

About the Author

Brigid M. Sackey is a senior research fellow at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Researching African Independent Churches
Chapter 2 Antecedents and Proliferation of African Independent Churches
Chapter 3 Religion and Changing Gender Discourse
Chapter 4 Encountering the Divine: Women's Religious Experiences
Chapter 5 Women in Religion and Health
Chapter 6 Case Studies of Healing in African Independent Churches
Chapter 7 New Directions in Gender Relation and Religion
Chapter 8 Conclusions

Editorial Reviews

Brigid Sackey offers readers an original and important examination.. .. Sackey's book is a fine resource for scholars and students.

African Studies Review - 2008

Brigid Sackey offers readers an original and important examination.. .. Sackey's book is a fine resource for scholars and students.

African Studies Review