September 2004

The Second-Class Citizens Of Malawi

I grew up in the Mississippi Delta and Earline grew up near Augusta, Georgia, where certain people tried to make us believe we were second-class citizens. They even said that it was ordained by God and it was their tradition. Now, we come to Malawi to discover that the same arguments are used to justify keeping Malawian women in an inferior position.

Here in our church school we are amazed at how the girls outshine the boys of their own age and development. They readily speak out, stand to read, and volunteer to participate. It is sad to know that in a few years these girls are in for a rude awakening and/or cultural shock. They will be acculturated to believe that they are inferior to men and that males have special places in the Malawian society that no female could ever hope to attain. They will be taught to serve men on their knees and that they should not resist being treated as second-class citizens because it is the Malawi’s culture and tradition.

It is also disappointing to know that some Christian leaders teach, promote, and reinforce the inferiority of women. They teach that God created and ordained women to be inferior to men. Some even maintain that woman should never be in positions of leadership in the church. Such leaders talk and act as if Jesus never came.

We were reminded that those who tried to maintain apartheid and segregation also said that God ordained it and it was their culture/tradition. It took organized resistance to convince them that culture/tradition should change with “more light.” Now what will it take to convince men in general and religious leaders in particular that Jesus came to set us all free?

Malawi’s new president, Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika, made in his “My vision for Malawi” speech in June 2004 the following promises concerning Malawian women.

My government shall:

• Remove all obstacles hindering the full participation of women in the transformation of our country.
• Enforce laws against all forms of discrimination against them.
• Increase the number of women in responsible policy making positions.
• Intensify programmes aimed at removing illiteracy, underemployment, and exploitation of women.

Therefore, there is some hope. We are asking women everywhere, especially the Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to join us in our morning prayers for the women of Malawi. Please pray for us as we model our equalitarian marriage in this strange land.

Otis and Earline