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
Gender equality should not be left to women alone, but requires the active participation of men and other stakeholders, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has said.
She said gender equality was a national development issue and not a matter concerning only women, stressing that both men and women had important roles to play in creating an inclusive society.
Dr Lartey said this last Thursday in Accra at a capacity workshop on the implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024.
The workshop was aimed at helping journalists understand the provisions of the Act, strengthen their capacity to communicate gender equity issues and promote accurate, balance reporting on the implementation of the Act.
Ghana could not achieve meaningful development if one section of society was excluded from participating fully in leadership, decision-making and other areas of national development.
“It is not about a group of people. It is not about one of the sexes. It is about the nation. It is about the country,” she said.
She called for stronger commitment to translating the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), into practical action to improve women’s participation in leadership and decision-making.
She said the passage of the law should not be considered the end of the process, but rather the beginning of deliberate efforts to ensure that its objectives were achieved.
Dr Lartey said increasing the number of women in leadership was important, but their participation must also have a meaningful impact on national development.
“We want it to count,” she stressed, calling for practical initiatives that would move the affirmative action agenda from policy to implementation.
The Executive Director of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), Dr Charity Binka, also urged the media to play a critical role in ensuring the effective implementation of the Act.
She said Ghana had taken an important step by passing the law after 13 years of efforts, but the real test was its implementation.
According to Dr Binka, the Act requires 30 per cent representation of women in leadership and decision-making by 2026, rising to 50 per cent by 2030.
She urged the media to inform the public about the law, monitor institutions’ compliance and challenge stereotypes that undermine women’s leadership.
Dr Binka urged journalists to ensure institutions were complying with requirements, including Gender Equity Policies, Compliance Certificates and annual reports.
She said affirmative action was not about replacing merit with gender, but addressing structural barriers that had historically limited qualified women’s opportunities to participate and lead.
She called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector, the media and other stakeholders to turn the law into measurable results for women and girls.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
The United Nations has warned, that Gender equality is “woefully off track.”
At the current rate of progress, gender equality would take 171 years to achieve, the UN’s Gender Snapshot report said.
The number of countries with a woman as head of state or government has increased from 2020 to 2026. “Yet six in seven countries are still led by men.
Women’s representation in national cabinets declined to 22.4 per cent in 2026, after peaking at 23.3 per cent in 2024,” the report said. “The decline is a warning sign that gains cannot be taken for granted, and that progress towards equal political power remains fragile.”
Funding for gender equality has fallen to its lowest level since 2021, the report found. At the same time, 42 per cent of UN agencies reported that their efforts to promote gender equality had been weakened, as a result of budget cuts.
Millions of women also continued to endure some extremely severe forms of violence and discrimination across the globe, the UN said. Nearly one in five girls is married before the age of 18, and nearly one in three women globally have survived partner or sexual violence in their lifetime.
In the past year, 316 million women experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, the report said.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, said the statistics were not inevitable. “It is the result of choices, made visible through data. Investing in gender equality, institutions, and the statistical systems that hold them to account is not a cost. It is the fastest route back to the 2030 Agenda’s promise of equal power for all.”-GNA
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
