Gender Performativities in the Quest for Healing, Salvation and Prosperity in An African Pentecostal Church

Abstract

This paper investigates the performances members of the Moments of Glory Prayer Army (MOGPA), a Pentecostal church in Ghana, display at meetings and how such performances are gendered. Using gender performativity theory and ethnographic design anchored on participant observations, interviews and focus group discussions, the paper reveals that members displayed gendered performances during MOGPA meetings through the frames of prayer, exorcism, testimonies and oblation. However, there were also instances during which individuals engaged in performances that seemed to subvert the normal gender roles regularly subscribed to and acknowledged by society. The study concludes that the performances displayed by social actors at MOGPA meetings were highly gendered and, subsequently, reinforces the gender roles and performances in the church in particular and the society in general.

Keywords: Social construction, Gender Performativity, Gender roles, Religion, Christianity, Pentecostalism, ethnography

DOI: 10.7176/JPCR/52-02

Publication date: February 28^th 2021