Conference Theme: Gender Disparity and Religion in Africa: Opportunities and Obstacles for Sustainable Development Goals?
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 11, 2023

The Society and Religious Research Centre (SORRECE), University of Dar es Salaam, invites contributors to our conference on the theme: Gender Disparity and Religion in Africa: Opportunity and Obstacles for Sustainable Development Goals? It seems clear that the common denominator of sustainable development is gender inclusiveness in all forms of life, including religious life and ideological stands, which are not taken into account or are taken into account insufficiently in the African context. This has generated a mismatch in our understanding of the relationship between religion and gender. Religious diversity is a potential source, if not a real cause, of gender disparity between and within nation-states. So, the question is: how do the nation-state, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and religious institutions deal with gender disparity in the context of globalization? Do they consider gender disparity a condition, a motor, an obstacle, or a goal of sustainable development?

There is also the assumption that God and religion in general see women and men as the same, with equal access to him and the institutions. This has resulted in what is called horizontal equity (Mahangila & Nchimbi, 2018:10). Thus, the principle claims that there is “equal treatment of equals”. Horizontal equity is involved to make sure that there is no discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, or type of work. In reality, this is misleading because the assumed equals are not equal in religious life. And thus, religion situates women and men quite differently and in hierarchical order. In this forum, we welcome debates that look at this aspect and attest to whether the varying positions of men and women as defined by religion are indeed obstacles or facilitators for the attainment of sustainable development goals and the national development agenda.
 

Please submit your abstract via ndaluka.thomas@udsm.ac.tz or thomas.j.ndaluka@gmail.com.

Important Dates

Mode of presentation/participation: physical and virtually

For general inquiries, you may contact Dr. Thomas Ndaluka through the following contacts: +255 739201909 or email: ndaluka.thomas@udsm.ac.tz