The public defence will be held as a video conference over Zoom.
The defence will follow regular procedure as far as possible, hence it will be open to the public and the audience can ask ex auditorio questions when invited to do so.
Time of trial lecture
The trial lecture will take place September 11, 2020 at 10.15 - 11.00.
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Adjudication committee
- Dr Rose Mary Amenga-Etego, University of Ghana (first opponent)
- Professor Tomas Sundnes Drønen, Faculty of Theology, Diaconia, and Leadership Studies, VID (second opponent)
- Associate Professor Birgitte Lerheim Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo.
Leader of the disputation
- Dean Aud Tønnessen.
Supervisor
- Ingvild Flaskerud (main supervisor)
- Professor Marianne Kartzow (co-supervisor)
About the dissertation
This thesis offers insights into the life of childless couples within the Bakossi community in Cameroon and broader discussions of African feminist theology and the view that pastoral care and counselling currently takes on the theology of procreation. From empirical data presented in the study, it is evident that many childless couples feel grief because of the absence of biological children. The study takes on a more gender-inclusive approach in examining cultural practices that dehumanise men and women in order to demonstrate that both men and women experience great cultural and religious discrimination in the case of childlessness. In addressing gender norms pertaining to childlessness, this study offers new insights/perspectives on the construction of gender within African family system by pointing out that childlessness transcends traditional gender power dynamics. Hence, this thesis contribute in the academic; African feminist pastoral theology, widely held discusses on childlessness in Africa focusing on cultural practices and reconceiving the theology of procreation.