Gender

This chapter considers the intersection of gender and Christianity in Southeast Asia that is made more complex by the broader intersectional frameworks and ideologies. In navigating these private-public, individual-institutional and local-global matrices, this chapter is divided into three sections: conformity, challenge and controversy. The section on ‘Conformity’, shows how the basic tenets of Christianity complement even augment gender ideologies in this region. The second section on ‘Challenge’ foregrounds the under-quoted scholarship of Asian feminist theologians who call to question many of these gender ideologies as they negotiate the tension between being dutiful daughters and becoming defiant daughters in the home, church and nation. The final section on ‘Controversy’ builds on the transgression of gender ideologies for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) communities in Asia.