"Nowhere does it say that in the Bible": tensions between legal and symbolic meanings of marriage for lesbian women in South Africa
For lesbian women who marry in South Africa, religion is both a source of great opposition to their relationships and a tool that they can use to negotiate their belonging with family and friends, after deciding to exercise their citizenship through marriage. This article draws from qualitative rese...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2014]
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In: |
Theology & sexuality
Year: 2014, Volume: 20, Issue: 1, Pages: 56-69 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Africa
/ Woman
/ Same-sex marriage
/ Religion
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IxTheo Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality KBN Sub-Saharan Africa NCF Sexual ethics ZD Psychology |
Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | For lesbian women who marry in South Africa, religion is both a source of great opposition to their relationships and a tool that they can use to negotiate their belonging with family and friends, after deciding to exercise their citizenship through marriage. This article draws from qualitative research conducted in South Africa to explore the relationship between sexuality and religion in the context of legal same-sex marriage. Though religion has been previously implicated in the maintenance of oppressive regimes, such as colonialism and apartheid, it has also been one of the primary voices against such injustices. The article concludes by suggesting that lesbian women use their own understandings of religion and sexuality to actively participate in the formation of new opportunities for social, legal, and spiritual citizenship. |
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ISSN: | 1355-8358 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Theology & sexuality
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1179/1355835814Z.00000000042 |