Suchergebnisse

Examines the role of women in communidades eclesiais de base (CEB [or Christian Base Communities]) in Santo Antonio, a poor parish on the periphery of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Personal stories of the women are related to shed light on their relationship to the popular church. Although CEB's encouraged female participation, & women were almost always the most enthusiastic assistants, the progressive church has not been particularly helpful to women. CEBs & liberation theology focus on transforming class consciousness but neither has addressed the patriarchal gender norms associated with Catholicism & the liberationist church remains embedded in a religious institution that discriminates against women. However, neither the CEBs, nor their female members, have expectations of changing cultural norms related to gender. They are far removed from the kind of widespread gender consciousness Western feminists identify with. Nonetheless, by giving women an opportunity to develop leadership skills & participate equally in some religious & political activities, the CEBs have enhanced women's visibility, as well as their role in bringing about social change. 28 References. J. Lindroth

Examines the role of women in communidades eclesiais de base (CEB [or Christian Base Communities]) in Santo Antonio, a poor parish on the periphery of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Personal stories of the women are related to shed light on their relationship to the popular church. Although CEB's encouraged female participation, & women were almost always the most enthusiastic assistants, the progressive church has not been particularly helpful to women. CEBs & liberation theology focus on transforming class consciousness but neither has addressed the patriarchal gender norms associated with Catholicism & the liberationist church remains embedded in a religious institution that discriminates against women. However, neither the CEBs, nor their female members, have expectations of changing cultural norms related to gender. They are far removed from the kind of widespread gender consciousness Western feminists identify with. Nonetheless, by giving women an opportunity to develop leadership skills & participate equally in some religious & political activities, the CEBs have enhanced women's visibility, as well as their role in bringing about social change. 28 References. J. Lindroth

Brazil'scomunidades eclesiais de base(CEBs) forged a generation of women leaders from poor communities who helped rebuild civil society and spurred the democratic transition. Fifteen years later, the CEBs and their women leaders have largely disappeared from politics. This study examines the reasons for their eclipse and the chances for their reemergence. New alliances with other Catholic progressives, Pentecostals, and feminist groups may enable these women to resume their activist role and may again help revitalize Brazilian civil society.

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- LIST OF ACRONYMS -- 1 Activism and Its Aftermath -- 2 Understanding Invisibility: Perspectives on Social Movement Decline -- 3 Resurrecting Civil Society: Christian Base Communities Under Military Rule -- 4 Earthquake Versus Erosion: Church Retreat and Social Movement Decline -- 5 Keeping the Faith: Empowerment and Activism in a New Era -- 6 Catholics and Pentecostals: Possibilities for Alliance -- 7 Activist Women and Women's Activists: Possibilities for Networking with Feminist Groups -- 8 Legacies of Activism: Personal Empowerment, Movement Survival -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX