Since the subordination of women in the church has been extensively covered by African women theologians, this study concentrates on violations of women's human dignity in society, in the world of work to be specific. Given that the subjugation of women in the world of work is a major issue, this study focuses on violations of human dignity faced by women in domestic work in Malawi.
Motivation for the research study
Therefore, the purpose of the study is to determine whether African women's liberation theology nurtures human dignity in women's domestic work, a debate not adequately addressed in theological discourses in Malawi and beyond. It is also imperative to note that the ILO's decent work agenda is in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) number 3, which seek to "promote gender equality and empower women" in today's world (Millennium Development Goals Report 2013).
Research problem and aim of the study
Theoretical framework of the study
Another concept of humiliation as articulated by Neuhäuser (2011) will help to understand the experiences of female domestic workers in Malawi. Therefore, African women's theology as articulated by members of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (the Circle) which was officially inaugurated in September 1989 in Accra, Ghana (Oduyoye 2002: 34; Amanze is considered a canon of theological tradition .
Research design and methodology
Limitations of the study
The study will serve as a reliable conceptual framework to begin exploring the situational challenges faced by women in Malawi, particularly those currently engaged in domestic service. In this respect, this dissertation is a basic building block based on the work of scholars in this field and could serve as a starting point for creative contextual exploration of the challenges women face in the world of work.
The structure of the dissertation
This chapter is important because it forms the basis of the research. The chapter will then describe the background to the concept of human dignity, problematize the concept, and demonstrate the relevance of the concept in women's domestic service.
Geographical location of the study
Finally, the chapter will highlight the factors behind violations of human dignity in women's domestic service in Malawi. Mkandawire-Valhmu emphasizes that the demarcation of "workplace and home" in the working world of female domestic workers in Malawi is difficult to trace; women inevitably experience violations of their human dignity as a result of their working and living conditions.
Definition of domestic work
In this regard, the ILO (2010) acknowledges different descriptions of the concept of "domestic work" by different organizations and governments. This description corresponds to the work done by women working in domestic work in Malawi.
A background of the concept of human dignity
Some of the human rights violations in this type of work will be discussed in the following sections of this chapter. Villa-Vicencio argues that after the establishment of the United Nations Charter, in 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was formed as there was a.
Problematising the concept of human dignity
Similarly, the concept of human dignity can also be problematic in domestic work because this type of work is categorized as precarious work. Given the precarious nature of domestic work, it is difficult to observe human dignity in this particular world of work.
Relevance of the concept of human dignity in domestic service
Second, the fact is that the concept of human dignity is the foundation of many other concepts, including the understanding and application of human rights. Kaufmann, Kuch, Neuhäuser and Webster (2011: v) point out that the concept of human dignity is used to separate “man.
Women domestic workers’ experiences of human dignity and human
Sexual violence and humiliation
Due to such fears, female domestic workers easily become conduits of sexually transmitted infections (STDs), including the HIV and AIDS pandemic, within the household (Okemwa 2008:26). This paints a picture that is damaging, challenging and overwhelming in the lives of female domestic workers in Malawi and beyond.
Oppression as economic exploitation
In that case, the workplace for female domestic workers becomes a place where many hardships are experienced, including economic exploitation. In the Malawian case, such safeguards are absent (Pendame 2006); as a result, domestic workers work overtime without being compensated.
Oppression as powerlessness
It is in this vein that an African women's liberation theology of human dignity is indispensable for nurturing human dignity and human rights in women's domestic service. For this reason, there is a need to conduct a survey to determine the relevance of African women's theological underpinnings that can be inventive in nurturing human dignity in the context of female domestic work in Malawi. Before undertaking that task, the final part of this chapter attempts to provide a glimpse of the causes of challenges to human dignity within the workplace for women domestic workers.
Factors that cause violations of human dignity in women domestic work 24
It is important to note that the concept of human dignity is at the heart of African women's theology. The third chapter has demonstrated that African women's theology is a liberation theology that promotes the concept of human dignity. The previous chapter has shown that African women's theology is a liberation theology that promotes the concept of human dignity.
It also emphasized that the concept of human dignity is a theoretical focus in African women's theology. The first part explains the relationship between African women's theology and women's domestic work in Malawi. The third chapter showed that African women's theology is a liberation theology that promotes the concept of human dignity.
This section established that the concept of human dignity is a theoretical focus in African women's theology through various dimensions.
African women’s theology as tool of liberation
Human dignity as a theoretical focus in African women theology
- The background of the Circle of Concerned African Women
- Feminist cultural hermeneutics
- Gender analysis in theological discourse
- A social constructionist version of epistemology and the Circle
- Solidarity in narrative discourses
- Prophetic witness in African women theology
- Communal theology as a characteristic in African women theology
The founder of the Circle of Concerned African Theologians is Mercy Amba Uwudziwa Oduyoye, a Ghanaian theologian (Phiri and Nadar. Therefore, the main objective in creating the Circle is to affirm the dignity of African women in the church and society. The members of the Circle join together with counterparts others in promoting the human dignity of women.
Conclusion
The relationship between African women's theology and the concept of human dignity is imperative in the world of work, especially in the domestic service of women in Malawi. The second part will show the ways in which the concept of partnership in African women's theology promotes dignity in women's domestic work. Finally, this chapter will clarify that the concept of agency in African women's theology is crucial to fostering human dignity in female domestic workers in Malawi.
Finally, the fourth chapter clarified that the concept of agency in African women's theology is essential to fostering human dignity in female domestic work in Malawi. Finally, the fourth chapter clarified that the concept of agency in African women's theology is essential to fostering human dignity in female domestic work in Malawi.
The relationship of African women theology and women domestic
The concept of partnership in African women theology promotes
Response to sexual violence and humiliation in women domestic work
However, both employers and employers should respect the sexual needs of domestic workers in the workplace. Okemwa argues that information about human sexuality must be made available to domestic workers to protect them from sexual exploitation and humiliation. Men who perpetuate sexual violence against women in domestic work must also be reached, and African feminist theology seeks partnership with concerned men in promoting the dignity of women (Ackermann 2008: 272).
Response to economic exploitation in women domestic work
The 2010 ILO report on "Decent work for domestic workers" discusses a number of issues with governments and employers to promote the human dignity and rights of domestic workers. Indeed, it is crucial for African women theologians to have their theological insights felt in the lives of ordinary women, such as female domestic workers in Malawi. It is arguably an example worth emulating by African women theologians if their work would be meaningful in the context of the working poor, such as the female domestic workers in Malawi.
The concept of empowerment in education responds to powerlessness
Phiri and Nadar argue that one of the strengths of African women's theology is its commitment to prioritizing young women so that they can access theological education. According to white young women who attend the adult literacy program, they are able to “understand the social, cultural, political and psychological dimensions of women's oppression and subordination, and the role that the rule of law sometimes plays in legitimizing women's low status” . Therefore, it is up to them to facilitate literacy education for female domestic workers who help them at home, if African women's theology is indeed a theology of liberation.
The prophetic witness responds to human dignity violations
Here arises the need for African women's theology to suggest ways in which the prophetic message can be exercised. It is then important for African women's theology to show how this concept can be applied to the lives of domestic working women. This implies that every theology, including the theology of African women, must take a leading role in authentic prophetic witness.
The Circle promotes a concept of agency in women domestic work in
Additionally, Gray observes that treating women as victims is always problematic because "their sheer survival requires a sense of agency and determination." The concept of agency can allow domestic workers to demand clarity about certain aspects of their work, such as “paid annual leave; daily and weekly rest; sick leave and any other personal leave; rate of pay for overtime work'. These forms of dominance can be responded to in different ways, but one that is useful in the case of domestic workers is a form of unrevealed resistance, the "hidden record" (Scott.
Conclusion
This study has focused on violations of women's human dignity in society, in the world of work to be specific. Given that subjugation of women in the world of work is a major issue, this study was based on violations of human dignity faced by women in domestic work in Malawi. On the one hand, concepts of human dignity, humiliation and oppression help to carry out a social analysis of violations of human dignity of women in domestic work.
Conclusions of the study
The chapter also discussed that there is a solidarity story of engagement with African women's theology that emphasizes the promotion of human dignity. This chapter described prophetic testimony in African women's theology that denounces the evils of society and seeks new ways to promote a better future. The chapter demonstrated that the concept of partnership is indispensable in African women's theology as it contributes to the promotion of dignity in female domestic work.
Recommendations: Way forward
Chapter four examined the prophetic witness in African women's theology that helps respond to violations of human dignity in two ways, prophetically condemning oppression and exploitation in female domestic work and advocating for a legal framework that promotes human dignity in female domestic work. This will help to reject notions that African women's theology belongs to elite African women who are in academia. Fourth, African women's theology needs to say more about the concept of agency, as this concept helps to recognize that disadvantaged groups always find strategies and means to survive.
Areas of further research
Applying a feminist approach to health and human rights research in Malawi: an exploration of violence in the lives of female domestic workers. Surviving life as a woman: a critical ethnography of violence in the lives of female domestic workers in Malawi. The Option for the Poor and the Exclusion of Women: The Challenges of Post-Mordenism and Feminism for Liberation Theology: in: Joerg Rieger (ed.), Choosing the Margins: Postmodernity and Liberation in Christian Theology.
