Patriarchy as a Form of Gender-Based Violence within the Religious Circle: A Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church Reflection

Gender-based violence continues to be an issue that has attracted interest and debates in all societies, regardless of the cultural, social, or religious affiliation of an individual, with patriarchal structures taking center stage. The purpose of this study was to explore patriarchy as a form of gender-based violence in the Pentecostal Assemblies of God church, Vihiga County. The study's theoretical background is anchored on a liberal feminism approach, which emanates from the works of Mary Wollstonecraft around 1772 and was advanced by various philosophers, including Simone de Beauvoir. The study deployed a qualitative research approach, collecting data from interviews and relevant literature reviewed. The study targeted women who are GBV survivors within 10 PAG churches in Vihiga County. The 30 GBV survivors in the PAG church were sampled using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data was analyzed thematically and presented as text. The findings of the study reveal that women have suffered GBV incidences that are supported by biblical patriarchal notations, which are intertwined with misinterpretation of scriptures, adoption of Jewish culture blended with African culture, and limited access to theological education and spaces. The study concluded that embracing male-centric language for God promotes, to a great extent, hierarchical structures, women's inferiority, and female subordination. As a result, GBV perpetrators get a leeway to get away with mischievous acts of violence against women in the name of the “the bible says.” In reflection on this study's findings, the researcher recommends that the church's leadership prioritize GBV and declare it a current problem that needs to be addressed concertedly. Additionally, the study recommends that women who have conceptualized GBV and have religious platforms should shun fear and stand up to challenge patriarchal structures, advocating for equality and equity in matters of religious practices and spaces.