Ms. Raynah Braganza Passanha has extensive experience as a Volunteer Trainer in Catechesis and Gender Concerns. She has achieved great academic success, earning Gold medals from the University of Bombay at both B.Ed and M.Ed levels. Her work for women’s rights and empowerment has been tireless, both nationally and internationally. In her responses to Janina Gomes’ questions, she shares the depth of her involvement and inspires others to make a similar commitment.
Why do you think it is important to observe International Women’s Day?
The mindset of Indians is still predominantly patriarchal, whether it is in society and its institutions, or in the Church. Sadly, education, media, religion, culture and the general environment reinforce patriarchal ways of thinking and result in even the so-called educated people living by gender stereotypes.
To bring about any kind of change, it is not enough only to observe International Women’s Day. We should use every opportunity available to help people think critically, about this denial of dignity and rights through gender discrimination. Only when mindsets change, can behavior change! Some days that offer us this: Girl Child Day with the Church of India (September 8th), with the country (January 24th– National Girl Child Day) and with the world (October 11th– International Girl Child Day).
We should also observe days dedicated to the elimination of violence against women, girls and other vulnerable groups during the 16 days of activism between November 25th and December 10th and on February 14th, which is celebrated internationally as 1 Billion Rising ( a global campaign and the biggest mass action for ending violence against women and girls, which was started in 2013).
These efforts could be ramped up to a much larger scale to publicly highlight issues relating to women, girls and other marginalized groups within the Church and society. It is these initiatives which create awareness, that will challenge us to change the way we think and the choices we make.
We need to be multi-pronged in our efforts to bring about change. Our educational institutions, formation centres for religious and clergy at all levels, training for catechists, catechesis or faith formation for children, youth, and adult faithful should all be avenues through which we make conscious efforts to include gender sensitization. Our efforts need to be directed to all genders, of all ages, through all possible ways, if we are serious about our commitment to the vision and mission of Christ.
Who do you feel is responsible for taking action on women’s issues?
Beginning with me, everyone is responsible to reflect on the inequality and injustice that women face. In particular, every Christian must be challenged to bring about a world where all created by God are respected, where the dignity of people is upheld and their rights are defended. It is a shame that Christians can claim to follow Jesus and discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual persuasion, community, language, creed and caste. We need to reflect together, think critically, challenge ourselves, as well as advocate and lobby along with secular groups for change to happen in the different institutions of society.
What do you think can be done to address gender stereotypes?
We can begin within our homes by fostering and upholding the values we teach and practice. We must challenge our leaders, clergy and catechists, when gender stereotypes are reinforced using scripture, by organizing non-threatening liturgical services, where scripture is reflected upon with a feminist understanding. Our educational institutions must make a special effort to address these issues. We have to use multi-pronged approaches directed at leadership at different levels, and also at children, young adults and adults.
Where do you think the most significant challenges to your work will occur?
Most challenges occur from women themselves who, secure in their comfort zone of existing structures, even if they are patriarchal, resist challenging the inequality they face at home or even in Church and work places. Fear of reprisal, alienation, negative reactions from authorities in their families, communities and the church, a lack of adequate support structures to give them the confidence to continue with their struggle, all lead to women choosing to fall in line with the ‘as it was in the beginning is now’ culture – a culture of apathy, fear, silence!
How can we help in meeting the challenges that will arise in achieving gender equality?
My focus is on awareness creation through scriptural reflections, liturgical celebrations, challenging clergy, religious and the laity whenever there is obvious discrimination on the basis of language, job division, exclusion or the demeaning of women and their contribution. I use my voice and my writings as major tools in this task.
Tell us something about your work with domestic workers in Hongkong and India
I worked with the Asian Migrant Centre that reached out to domestic workers mainly from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Nepal. I learnt a lot here as I learned about para-legal assistance to workers and helped them take their cases of grievance to the labour department and courts, provided them counselling services and helped with research, documentation and publication.
Tell us also about your work with factory workers in Sri Lanka and abused women in Pune
In Sri Lanka, I visited the women factory workers in their camps to listen to their stories, and provide accompaniment and counselling. I began studying the faith through Maryvale in Birmingham and started teaching the faith in the parish, school and Vicariate. My take on the faith has always had a leaning on the social justice angle.
With women in Pune, since I was made diocesan chairperson, I have conducted awareness sessions, liturgical and para-liturgical services on feast days and girl child days. Unfortunately, women are more inclined to prayer services and religious rituals, and fear having their long held understanding of the role of women in the family and church, as supposedly dictated by scripture, being challenged. With my team, we have conducted sessions for the priests of the diocese on the gender policy of the Church in India, on domestic violence and on several other gender related topics. Abused women are listened to, accompanied as they deal with their situation and when necessary, directed to legal help.
How far do you think your sessions for religious congregations, seminarians, youth, catechists and teachers have changed perceptions and created awareness among these groups of people?
This is a tough thing to measure. However, in my endeavour to challenge ideas held and look at them critically, to look at scripture with a non-traditional,. feminist lens, has impacted people who were open. Unfortunately, having no resources from the diocese and having to rely solely on my own resources, has been a stumbling block. People are now slowly getting more open to being challenged to think differently. The fact that this endeavour is more sporadic rather than continual and regular, makes it doubly difficult, but I guess that is the journey. We have a long, long way to go and if religious congregations were more open to sharing their spaces, trained personnel and if they would reach out to women, I think much more can be achieved.
As Chairperson of the Pune Diocesan Commission for Women and National Convenor of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement, what has been the main thrust of your activities and is there anything you would like to add?
Violence in all its avatars and the understanding of the scriptures and the teachings of our faith are what I focus on, to highlight gender inequality and how it contradicts the very mandate of our faith. If we as women can change our way of thinking, we can bring about a change in our families, communities, society and the world at large. Fear of thinking differently about faith matters is one of the main causes of resistance I encounter, besides suspicion of secular women’s groups. But change comes slowly, One person at a time, if necessary.
Ms Raynah Braganza Passanha
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