Gender, vulnerability and the quest for self realization among women as portrayed in the Book of Ruth: A Kenya African Religious perspective

Abstract

The arguments presented in this paper are grounded on the experiences of Naomi and Ruth as presented in the Book of Ruth. The question guiding this discussion is what lessons can Kenyan women learn from the experinces of Naomi and Ruth as reflected in the Bible. The paper is underpinned by SM Muriithi‟s (2008) assertion that Vulnerability can however be both a means and an end insofar as African women‟s religious orientation is concerned. Among the issues discussed here include: vulnerability among Kenyan women, the vulnerability of Naomi and Ruth as reflected in the Book of Ruth, the relevance of Naomi-Ruth narrative in tackling vulnerability among Kenyan women.