Abstract
This paper addresses how Christianity, and in particular Catholicism, is deployed in response to gender-based violence (GBV) in Papua New Guinea. It provides insights into the various ways the Catholic community, Church, and its clergy respond to and manage GBV. Focusing on a case study in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, the article reveals how Gender Equality Theology is used and received to address GBV in this region. What transpires is that despite supporting social change, Gender Equality Theology also advocates a particular status quo by essentialising gender relations, and thereby excluding non-binary gender identifications and relations. The article will discuss this paradox, highlighting the importance of vernacularisation and how despite its conservatism, Gender Equality Theology provides victims, survivors, counselors, and activists with resources to respond to GBV and change gender inequality in the region.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 310-328 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Oceania |
Volume | 92 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Keywords
- Autonomous Region of Bougainville
- Catholicism
- Christianity
- gender equality
- gender-based violence
- Papua New Guinea