Gender
Beyond the cross: The role of women in Easter story
Easter is here again and Christians all over the world are observing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament.
It also marks the end of the Lent season and is also a time of joy and celebration for many Christians worldwide.
It is therefore not surprising to see Christians organise conventions, crusades and picnics to commemorate the special occasion.
On Good Friday which is expected to be commemorated tomorrow, a section of Christians would wear black to signify the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Predictably, it would be all white on Sunday which is the resurrection to signify victory over death.
In this article, The Spectator would look at the role women played in the entire story about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During the ministry of Jesus Christ, women such as Mary Magdalene, Mary, Martha, Joanna and Sussana played significant roles. They were devoted followers, witnesses, and provided financial support to Him, during his ministry.
At the cross, several women were present during Jesus’ crucifixion, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Matthew 27:56 mentions that “many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him.” Luke 23:27-31 and Mark 15:40-41 also refer to ‘many other women’ being present.
Women played significant roles in the events surrounding Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
In ancient Jewish culture, women’s testimony was often viewed with skepticism or dismissed altogether. A Jewish historian Josephus noted that women’s testimony was not admissible due to perceived flaws in their character.
This societal bias is evident in the Gospel accounts, where women’s roles as witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus were crucial, yet potentially problematic given the cultural context.
The resurrection account is built on the testimony of women and it best explains the central role of women in the Easter story.
In each of the four gospels of the Bible, (Matthew, Mark, Luke and, John), the women- Mary, Mary Magdalene, were the first to see the risen Jesus. It is their testimony that sends Peter and John to the empty tomb.
The role of women in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be downplayed, bringing to light how women can be agents of change and transformation in the face of adversity.
Again, the role of these women in the events surrounding the suffering, death and resurrection is a reminder of the contributions that women can make to the life of the church and recognise the important roles women play in various aspects of life including politics, education and business.
The role of women
In Mark 14: 1-9, it was a woman who anointed the head of Jesus in preparation for his burial. In Matthew 27: 19, a woman urged her husband (Pontius Pilate) to stand against the power of the mob and spare an innocent man’s life.
Again, women were the ones that stood at the foot of the cross as Jesus breathed his last in Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-6 and Luke 23:55-56 where women were the first to arrive at the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.
Also they were the first to be entrusted with taking the good news of Christ’s resurrection to the disciples and were the first to witness the resurrection as captured in Matt 28: 18 -20.
Significance
According to Christianity.com, the role of these women speaks volumes of how much God loved, trusted and rewarded the women. It also speaks to the many ways God is willing, eager and able to use both men and women to advance his Kingdom.
In April 2023, a research paper on ‘The role of women in the events surrounding the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,’ states that women can be agents of change in a society that oppresses and marginalises them.
It said the fact that women played a key role in the events surrounding the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus was an example of how they can effect change and transformation.
“The role of women in the events surrounding the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can have significant implications for national development.
One way in which this can be done is by recognisng and valuing the contributions that women make to society,” it said.
The paper said just as Jesus valued and respected women in his ministry, it is important for society to recognise the important role that women play in all areas of life, including politics, business, and education, adding that this can be achieved through policies that promote gender equality, equal opportunities, and the protection of women’s rights.
Just as the women in the Gospels were leaders and co-workers in the early Christian community, women today have the potential to be leaders in their communities, contributing to the growth and development of their nations.
Providing education and training opportunities for women can help them develop their skills and abilities, and empower them to take on leadership roles in society.
It added that the role of women in the events surrounding the Easter story provides important lessons that can be applied to national development by recognising and valuing the contributions of women, promoting their education and empowerment, and encouraging their participation in all areas of life.
Society can work towards promoting gender equality and uplifting women in all areas of society. This is a powerful reminder that God can use even the most marginalised and overlooked members of society to bring about his purposes.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Across many farming communities in Northern Ghana, women routinely carry their infants on their backs while engaging in strenuous farm labour. This practice, though rooted in necessity and resilience, exposes both mothers and their babies to significant health risks, particularly musculoskeletal strain and developmental concerns.
For these women, the decision to take babies to the farm is rarely optional. It reflects the absence of affordable childcare, entrenched gender roles, and persistent economic pressures that compel women to combine farming, childcare, and household duties simultaneously.
Everyday Reality
In many rural communities in Northern Ghana, women begin their day before sunrise, balancing farm work with domestic responsibilities such as fetching water and firewood, cooking, and caring for children. Carrying infants on their backs, strapped with cloth, enables them to breastfeed and monitor their babies while going about their farming activities.
The use of outdated tools increases the risk of sprains and strains. Exposure to pesticides, extreme heat, and zoonotic infections further endanger women, especially those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Effects on Mothers
Dr. Enoch Harvoh, a Senior Medical Doctor at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, explained in an interview with GNA that the primary health risks stem from prolonged physical strain. He identified several key concerns, including musculoskeletal pain, postural changes, chronic fatigue, injury risk, and other hazards such women face.
Dr. Harvoh explained that musculoskeletal issues such as chronic lower back, upper back, neck, and shoulder pain are common among women who farm with babies on their backs. He added that back-carrying alters spinal alignment, increasing pelvic tilt and causing abnormal curvature of the spine, medically described as cervokypholordotic posture.
The combination of farming, domestic work, and childcare leads to severe physical exhaustion and stress, while frequent bending, squatting, and lifting further contribute to physical strain.
Effects on Infants
While back-carrying supports bonding and infant safety, prolonged exposure in farm environments presents risks to infants. These include:
- Lower limb development concerns
- Restricted movement and visual stimulation
- Potentially affected sensorimotor development
- Exposure to farm hazards including chemicals, machinery, and excessive heat
According to Dr. Harvoh, some studies link extended back-carrying to changes in leg alignment, such as genu valgum (knock-knees), though these are often within normal clinical limits.
Labour and Time Constraints
Women face chronic labour shortages, especially during peak farming seasons. Combined with unpaid domestic work and childcare, this creates extreme physical and mental strain.
Madam Saada Abdul, a farmer from Kpadjai in the Kpandai District, told GNA that she regularly carries her baby while weeding, harvesting, transporting crops, and cooking. “The work is very hard, and the baby’s weight adds to the pain in my back and waist. I hardly get time to rest compared to my husband,” she said.
Similarly, Madam Ramatu Iddris from the Nawuri community explained that women often prioritise labour on their husbands’ farms, reducing productivity on their own plots. Limited access to tractors, credit, extension services, and market information forces many women to rely on manual labour while carrying their babies.
These compounded challenges heighten women’s vulnerability to climate shocks such as drought, erratic rainfall, and economic downturns.
Intersecting Challenges
The practice of carrying babies to farms is embedded within broader structural inequalities. Customary inheritance systems largely favour men, leaving women with limited access to land. Many women farm on their husbands’ plots or borrow small, less fertile parcels of land, discouraging long-term investment and access to credit or extension services.
Women account for more than half of Ghana’s agricultural labour force, particularly in subsistence farming in the Northern Sector, yet much of their work remains informal and undervalued, with limited recognition in economic planning and policy frameworks.
Resilience and Coping Strategies
Despite these hardships, Northern women farmers demonstrate remarkable resilience. Common coping mechanisms include forming women’s farming groups to access training, credit, and inputs. Livelihood diversification, such as engaging in shea butter processing, poultry rearing, petty trading, charcoal production, and seasonal migration, can help supplement income.
Recommendations
Stakeholders in agriculture, health, and local governance must prioritise targeted interventions to reduce the physical burden on women farmers. Key recommendations include:
- Establishing community-based childcare centres to reduce the need to carry babies to farms
- Providing practical ergonomic training on safe lifting, posture, and culturally appropriate baby-carrying techniques
- Improving access to appropriate farm tools and small-scale mechanisation
- Strengthening workplace protections through rest breaks, access to potable water, and protective equipment
- Formally recognising women’s unpaid care and agricultural labour in national and district development planning
Health professionals also recommend targeted strengthening and stretching exercises for the lower back and pelvic muscles to mitigate long-term physical strain associated with combined farming and childcare responsibilities.
Conclusion
Women farmers are indispensable to Ghana’s food security and rural livelihoods. Yet their contributions come at a high personal cost due to systemic inequities, limited support services, and entrenched gender roles.
Addressing the health and productivity challenges faced by women who farm with babies on their backs is not only a matter of equity but a critical investment in national development, public health, and future generations.
—GNA
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A training and capacity-building workshop was held on Thursday for the media to intensify coverage on gender-based issues to support women’s participation in leadership and governance in Accra.
The workshop, held under the theme ‘Strengthening Advocacy for the Implementation of Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Equity) Law, 2024 – The Case of the Media’, brought together journalists from selected media houses.
The Convener of the Affirmative Action (AA) Law Coalition, Ms Sheila Minka-Premo (Esq.), stressed that the media has a critical responsibility to educate the public on the importance of the Affirmative Action Act, noting that sustained and informed reporting would strengthen advocacy and support the effective implementation of the law.
While commending both the Legislature and the Executive for the passage and presidential assent of the Affirmative Action Bill into law, the AA Law Coalition Convener appealed to government to address existing gaps. These include the constitutional provision of 30 per cent women’s representation in politics, inadequate policy frameworks to advance affirmative action, and weak compliance by state institutions.
She charged the media to highlight and promote the role of women in leadership and to actively support a smooth and effective implementation process of the Act.
In her welcome address, Executive Director of ABANTU for Development, Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, said the training sought to strengthen journalists’ advocacy skills to enable them to educate the public on the provisions and significance of the law.
Dr Mensah-Kutin commended ActionAid Ghana for supporting the advocacy efforts, urging the media to prioritise the law to ensure its sustainability.
The Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121) was passed by Parliament in July 2024 and received presidential assent in September 2024, following years of sustained advocacy by women’s rights organisations, gender activists, and other stakeholders.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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