Abstract:
The study was conducted in the Ashanti Mampong Municipality. It investigated
discrimination against women and/or abuse of women in churches through doctrines and
practices by mainline (orthodox) and non-orthodox (Pentecostal and African indigenous)
churches. This was a mixed-method sequential explanatory design which employed the
phenomenological approach. Hundred (100) respondents comprising the clergy and laity
were sampled via simple random, and proportional stratified sampling methods. Data was
gathered using questionnaire (Cronbach Alpha = 0.76), and semi-structured interview
guide. Data was analyzed and presented in tables and figures or charts as frequency
counts and percentages. The thematic approach using open-coding system was used to
analyse the qualitative data. Chi square (χ2) test was used to test for the hypotheses with
p < .05. The study revealed that Female members in churches within the Ashanti
Mampong Municipality have unequal rights; there is imbalance or uneven distribution of
power and authority. Human rights violations or abuses of females in Christendom is
statistically found to be linked to or associated with church doctrines and practices
(p = .004). It was empirically found that human rights abuses of females in Christendom
was largely dependent on Church practices than Church doctrines (p = .023). The church
hierarchy uses canon laws, and doctrinal practices, as mechanisms to violate the rights of
female members in churches within the municipality. They use patriarchy and ‘male
chauvinism’ as weapons to suppress, limit female participation in leadership and power
in the church ministry. Female members of churches in the municipality experience male
dominance, deprivation, rejection, denial and exclusion from leadership, participation in
church administration, preaching and other church activities. It was recommended that
the Christian Council of Churches in the Ashanti-Mampong Municipality should adopt
gender equality policies on women’s representation in leadership. It should campaign
against the clergy who misinterpret, and misrepresent the Bible against the rights of
females. The Christian Council of Churches in Ghana through the assistance of the local
council of Churches within the study area should campaign and support females/women
to stand for decision-making or leadership positions in churches. They should have a
civil and legal framework that will protect and promote the rights of all its members,
including women.
Description:
A THESIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION,
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES EDUCATION, SUBMITTED TO THE
SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION,
WINNEBA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN HUMAN RIGHTS
APRIL, 2015