Adding insult to injury: Sexual harassment in Hong Kong churches. Issue 3 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tso, Hiu-Tung Jessica
• Is Part Of: Asian journal of women's studies. Volume 24:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 388
• Page End: 395
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: 性騷擾 -- 基督教 -- 教會 -- 香港; Sexual harassment -- Christianity -- church -- Hong Kong; Feminism -- Asia -- Periodicals; Women -- Asia -- Periodicals; Feminism -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 305.4209505
• DOI: 10.1080/12259276.2018.1498287
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1225-9276

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper aims to review sexual harassment cases that have occurred in the churches of Hong Kong. To this day, such incidents have been brushed aside or ignored. In 2011, a Christian woman, referred to as Ms. K in this paper, wrote about her experience and accused her supervisor of rape. However, her pastor did not think that the said supervisor had committed a crime and merely offered to pray with the victim. This response touched off an uproar within the churches. This is one of the many stories that have been emerging from the churches that are characterized by authoritarian, patriarchal leadership and cultures that routinely silence the voices of women. A gender justice group in the Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC) is trying to respond to the current situation using different approaches, including setting up a policy for churches, conducting a church gender awareness survey, collecting accounts from victims, and providing gender justice education. By reviewing the current situation and strategies, this paper shares the lessons we have learned and how we should seek to heal the victims of such crimes.