After She Was Born a Girl

A Memoir of Gender Injustices in a Male-Dominated Society

Emmanuel Kaghondi

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9781666775877, 9781666775884
• eBook ISBN: 9781666775891
• Topic: Teología y religión
• Subtopic: Sexualidad y género en la religión

In these pages, the harrowing experiences of women in Tanzania are laid bare. Through poignant and insightful narratives, the book delves into the intricate complexities of cultural practices, memory, trauma, and spirituality. It offers a sobering account of the harsh realities women endure, navigating deeply entrenched gendered cultures that assign lower cultural value to womanhood. However, amidst these challenges, the book reveals the remarkable resilience exhibited by women within Tanzanian society.Drawing from the author's personal background as a descendant of traditional midwives, one who was a former practitioner of female genital mutilation surgery, this raw and unflinching account provides an authentic portrayal of the realities faced by Tanzanian women. The author's years spent as a rural pastor in Tanzanian villages have endowed him with a unique perspective, enabling him to draw profound parallels between his mother's journey into womanhood and his wife's relentless endeavors to combat gender inequality and violence both within and beyond the church.Through this intimate and revealing lens, readers are invited to explore the intricate intersections of gender, culture, and spirituality in Tanzania. The evocative narratives within this book serve as catalysts, inspiring readers to challenge their preconceptions and take a firm stance against the injustices that women endure. With its captivating storytelling and powerful message, this thought-provoking work is an essential read for individuals interested in delving into gender studies, cultural studies, and the pursuit of social justice.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1: The Woman behind the Shadow
• Chapter 2: “If you are not dead, you are not formed”
• Chapter 3: “If you don’t know how to die, visit the graveyard”
• Chapter 4: “When two bulls fight, the grass is what suffers”
• Chapter 5: “Speak the truth or swallow a rock?”
• Chapter 6: “A man’s poo is inodorous”
• Chapter 7: “Let him marry another wife”
• Chapter 8: “Because He Is a man”
• Chapter 9: And She is a Woman
• Chapter 10: The Uphill Battle for Change
• Chapter 11: Forbidden Dreams to Pursuing Womanhood
• Chapter 12: A Bird with no Wings
• Chapter 13: (Un)celebrating Memory
• Bibliography