The Woman Called Man: A Lens into Gender Dynamics and the Import Transformation in African Pentecostalism

The chapter provides a critical analysis of gender relations within Nigerian (African) Pentecostalism, using the Church of God Mission International (CGMi) as a central case study. The author examines the tension between the visible participation of women in Pentecostal churches and the persistence of patriarchal structures that marginalise them from leadership and decision-making roles. The chapter’s central argument is that gender equality in Nigerian Pentecostalism is often more illusory than substantive. It investigates the socio-cultural and religious constructs that perpetuate gender inequality, drawing a direct line from patriarchal norms in traditional Benin culture to contemporary practices within the church. The author uses the example of Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, who became the first female Pentecostal archbishop in Nigeria after her husband’s death, to illustrate this dynamic. Despite her high-ranking position, her leadership was met with significant resistance from male members, revealing the deep-seated cultural biases against female authority. Employing a qualitative methodology that includes interviews and observations, the study is grounded in a multifaceted theoretical framework that incorporates Ridgeway’s Expectation States Theory, Bourdieu’s Value Production Theory, Durkheim’s Ritual Theory, and the African concept of Ubuntu. The author argues that while Pentecostalism appears to empower women, it often fails to challenge the underlying cultural beliefs that view women as inferior or impure, thereby reproducing gender inequality. The chapter concludes that a single woman’s ascension to a leadership role does not signify a true transformation of gender dynamics. Instead, it calls for a deeper engagement with the cultural and theological roots of patriarchy to foster genuine inclusivity and gender justice within African Pentecostal communities. The analysis highlights how everyday social interactions and institutional practices reveal the ongoing negotiation of power, privilege, and inequality in modern African religious life.