Vol. 22 No. 1, March 2003

In God's Image is an Asian Christian women's effort to provide a forum for expressing our reality, our struggles, our faith reflections and aspirations for change.

Editorial

Asians often take pride in our unique cultures, which include our traditional practices and values, exotic food and clothing, music and arts, etc. All these evoke special images, colours, fragrances and flavours. We savour with pride as we talk about all these that make us what we are - Asians.

Some dictionary definitions of culture are the following: (1) it refers to the complex whole of ideas and things produced by people in their historical experience; (2) it is a set of social institutions and practices that provides coherence to the community; (3) it signifies something distinctive about a group of people, defining, characterizing and giving them a sense of identity; (4) it means a way or style of life, as well as learned ways of behaving and adapting. From these definitions, it is clear that culture is heterogeneous, referring to innumerable items such as ideas, sentiments, objects, actions, tendencies, accumulations, etc. Furthermore, culture is a product of communal life over a period of time. It is so much a part of us, of who we are, that sometimes we think and do things just because that's how things have been, without question or without thinking about it. And indeed, culture is something that cannot be changed overnight.

Part of the legacy of feminism, the movement for women's empowerment towards the vision of genuine partnership and equality with all in society, is to look seriously into our cultures in order to see the roots of patriarchy that have kept women in subservience, suppression and oppression. Many Asian feminists have uncovered these roots. But many more Asian women are still trapped by the impositions of culture, which curtail their movement, development, and growth. 

Moreover, it is not just culture that imposes restrictions upon women. Religions also do. In Asia, culture and religion are often intertwined, reinforcing each other, thereby doubly subjugating the already oppressed women. Religion itself has its own "culture" but its attribution to the divine, the mysterious, the holy, provides sanctions to the restrictions. 

This edition of In God's Image focuses on how Asian women have been shaped by, have lived through or survived, and at times have successfully overcome the restrictions and curtailments imposed upon them by our different Asian cultures. A set of poems on the struggles of women, from being born a girl and surviving through the life stages, powerfully reflects these restrictions and struggles. Several essays describe the realities that women go through as female children steeped in certain religious cultures, and growing up into womanhood steeped in stereotyped expectations. One essay focuses on the struggles of women in the churches, which are also steeped in patriarchal ways and practices. Some essays provide biblical-theological reflections by re-reading the story of Hagar and re-defining the meaning of ecclesia - one feminist step towards overcoming oppression.

As this issue comes out in March, the month during which we celebrate International Women's Day, we also include a liturgy and a report on two different IWD celebrations. Included is also a sharing on a historic meeting of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia that happened in late November. We are entering the season of Lent, closely followed by Easter. To depict these important events in our Christian calendar, we have chosen for our cover design a painting by Indian artist Lucy D'Souza-Krone. It is one among many beautiful paintings that she has done and made available for us in In God's Image. 

Part of the challenge of feminism is not only to highlight the negative elements of cultures and religions but also to lift up the positive elements and to use these to transform the lives of the oppressed. We hope that in future we will be able to feature such kind of stories and reflections. Please share with us your stories and reflections. 

Publications Secretary

If articles listed in the table of contents interests you, and you would like to have a copy of this journal, please write to igi@awrc4ct.org.