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Religions
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Religion, Gender and Social Development
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Religion, Gender and Social Development

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444). This special issue belongs to the section "Religions and Health/Psychology/Social Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 1740

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Mary Nyangweso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
Interests: religion; gender; community development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Religion, gender and development have always been intertwined. Religion is a powerful social phenomenon that has influenced and been influenced by cultural norms in a variety of contexts. Its influence on social behavior is evident on a global scale. Religion is not merely a factor in the social construction of behavior; it has also endorsed practices that bear significant implications for gender status and roles. The complex relationship between religion and gender, one that is often misunderstood, is a crucial consideration in today’s global context, especially in the absence of a clear separation of church and state.

Gender, as a social construct, has been a significant factor in human experience, especially social development. The construction of gender based on cultural norms can elevate or devalue individual status and role in society. This underscores the importance of understanding gender dynamics in various contexts. The construction of gender based on religious values has been shown to heighten gender experiences. This journal aims to explore how gender construction can influence gender experience and general social experience. Drawing from specific case studies, authors are encouraged to explore this process of gender construction and highlight the role of religion in the process.

Social development is the objective of any society that aims to progress. The objectives of social development are to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities by increasing social inclusion and creating opportunities for people towards productive lives by fostering issues such as poverty, inequality and social exclusion. A cornerstone of social development is the promotion of democratic values, which emphasize freedom, self-determination and realization, among others. Gender is a critical factor in social development, as societies are comprised of individuals from both genders, who together comprise about half of the population. Marginalization of any one gender and denial of them access to opportunities for development have implications for social development in general. Religious values can hinder social development and gender inequality. This journal invites discussions that explore these issues from diverse vantage points.

The editors of this journal are pleased to invite you to submit articles that explore the intersection of religion, gender and social development. We cordially invite you to contribute to the Special Issue on Religion, Gender and Development by invoking theories, methodologies and case studies that interrogate the intersection of religion, gender and social development. To proceed, please submit an abstract of your proposed article. Following approval, you will be invited to prepare a full paper for potential publication in this journal upon completion of the peer review process. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews. Potential research areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Religion;
  • Gender;
  • Social development;
  • Democracy.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor, or to the Assistant Editor of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the special issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Mary Nyangweso
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gender
  • social construction
  • religion
  • development
  • women
  • theory

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 248 KB  
Article
Gendered Political Violence and the Church in Africa: Perspectives from Church Leaders
by James Ndlovu
Religions 2025, 16(9), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16091213 - 22 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 493
Abstract
This study investigates the gendered effects of political violence on women (and children) from a church leader perspective. This paper critically examines the role of church leadership in protecting vulnerable groups in society (particularly women and children) and interrogates how church leadership has [...] Read more.
This study investigates the gendered effects of political violence on women (and children) from a church leader perspective. This paper critically examines the role of church leadership in protecting vulnerable groups in society (particularly women and children) and interrogates how church leadership has incorporated women and children into peacebuilding programmes. Using qualitative methods, in-depth interviews were conducted with church leaders affected by political violence in Zimbabwe. The results of this study show that women and children are disproportionately affected by political violence. The women and children are affected socially, economically, and psychologically as a result of political violence, which results in severe trauma, disruption, and loss of livelihoods, and, in severe cases, loss of lives. The results further indicate that the Church plays a crucial role in providing safe havens for the victims, offering spiritual guidance and counselling for the victims. However, the findings show that the Church continues to lack gender sensitivity and inclusivity in peacebuilding programmes. Women and children continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles in churches, as well as in driving the peacebuilding agenda. This paper argues for a transformative and gender-sensitive framework in church-led peace interventions, which prioritises the needs of women and children and incorporates them in the process. This paper argues that by adopting this approach, the Church harnesses its transformative capacity as a change agent for building sustainable peace and addressing political violence in a holistic manner. This interdisciplinary study contributes to the evolving scholarly debates on the intersections of gender, religion, and peacebuilding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion, Gender and Social Development)
16 pages, 250 KB  
Article
Emptiness Is to Womanism as Purple Is to Lavender: Buddhist Womanism Revisited in Alice Walker’s Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart
by Zhi Huang and Zier Zhuang
Religions 2025, 16(9), 1174; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16091174 - 11 Sep 2025
Viewed by 422
Abstract
This paper argues that the philosophy of Buddhist emptiness not only finds expression in Alice Walker’s Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart with its two most salient manifestationsdependent origination and impermanence, but is applied to alleviate suffering in the poetry, and the [...] Read more.
This paper argues that the philosophy of Buddhist emptiness not only finds expression in Alice Walker’s Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart with its two most salient manifestationsdependent origination and impermanence, but is applied to alleviate suffering in the poetry, and the two approaches the poetry collection are (1) to recognize emptiness in times of crisis and (2) to cultivate bodhicitta through using emptiness to extend loving kindness to all beings. Furthermore, it is argued that emptiness enriches Buddhist womanism by strengthening its theoretical underpinnings, redirecting the focus from practice to cognitive transformation, and harmonizing the priorities of individual and communal wellbeing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religion, Gender and Social Development)
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