Gender reforms and the perpectuation of patriarchal hegemony in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Gender reforms, feminism and late femocracy have been topical in social and political discourse in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and at the turn of the new millennium. The article seeks to outline and critically analyse gender reforms of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) considering the predominantly patriarchal mission field in which the Church is ministering. The presentation employed a literature review, documentary reviews such as church magazines, and oral interviews because it is historical in nature. The results of the findings show that the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) is the preferred institutional setting of the investigation. It is restricted to the geographical frontiers within which the said Church is operational in Zimbabwe. The most reported challenges were that the reforms triggered the unintended consequence of perpetuating patriarchal hegemony by further entrenching congregants in their resistance to gender reforms, and reluctance to accept women’s ministry in some of the congregations and involve them in Church administration. It was recommended that the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe should endeavour to capacitate gender reforms and address the perpetuation of patriarchal hegemony. The paper will be of immense value to the fields of oral history and humanities particularly when it comes to the promotion of a harmonious co-existence between patriarchy and gender reforms inclined towards feminism.