*XAVIER CENTRE OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH*
Cordially invites you to an *online* *presentation on* *RESONANCE OF THE FEMALE VOICE: WOMANISM AND THE CHURCH IN PORTUGUESE GOA* *By Dr. Sushila Sawant Mendes* *Abstract from the Speaker* In the pre-Portuguese period, the female voice was stifled with the then-existing social norms of child marriage, sati, polygamy, dowry, *patnidharma,* enforcement of strict widowhood, and other systemic denials: such as education, ownership of property, divorce, and widow marriage. The Portuguese administration and the Church in particular did much in the resonance of the female voice. Polygamy and sati were prohibited and divorce was permitted. There was free movement of women in society, unlike their Hindu counterparts. Helpless women took refuge in the charitable institutions of the church. Women could now inherit property. The life of a Catholic widow was much more humane. The Church today encourages Small Christian Communities whereby it gently enters into the domain of family and community service. This study analyses the role of a pro-active Church, within the framework of a colonial and patriarchal Goan society. *About the author/speaker:* Prof. Sushila Sawant Mendes is the author of the book ‘Luis de Menezes Braganza: Nationalism, Secularism and Free-thought in Portuguese Goa’. She has worked as the Head of the Department of History at Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem for 31 years. Prof. Mendes has also served as Officiating Principal, Vice-Principal, and the In-charge of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell of the College. She has headed the Steering Committee for National Accreditation and Assessment of the Quepem College which has since been accredited with an ‘A’ grade. She presents research papers regularly at State, National, and International Conferences many of which have found a place in books on the history of Goa. Dr. Mendes is a trustee of the Silver Star Appeal, a foundation devoted to the awareness of diabetics. She has recently been awarded the State Teachers Award for Excellence in Higher Education for 2020-21. *On* *Thursday, November 18, 2021* *at 6.30 pm IST **(**3.00 pm CET, 9.00 am ET)* *Online Platform: ZOOM* Zoom Meeting ID: 413 220 7601 https://bit.ly/3H6hnck [image: SUSHILA MENDES.jpg] Hope to see you there... Fr. Malcolm Barreto, S.J. Administrator, XCHR Xavier Centre of Historical Research B B Borkar Road, Alto Porvorim, Goa 403521, India. Tel: +91-832-2417772 (Office) *www.xchr.in* <http://www.xchr.in/> *facebook.com/xchr.goa <http://facebook.com/xchr.goa>*