Blindspot!
From Issue: 1010 [Read full issue]
Sara and Hagar
Sara and Hagar — so different in origin, position and role in the patriarchal system represented by Abraham — are equal between themselves and before God: They are the Women of Promise. Their motherhood has a universal purpose. They transcended through their children Isaac and Ishmael and their children gave rise to nations where God revealed a message through Prophets Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad. Without them, it is not possible to comply with the Divine plan. In this regard, they canalize a sacred purpose, bringing to humankind what is needed for its development and enlightenment.
Sara and Hagar are mythical characters for us. They lived in a world very different from ours, but we constantly recreate them when we compete against or are unfair with ourselves or with other women. When we are silent about abuse, when we use our privileges to cause pain or take advantage of other women, or when we judge other women's reality assuming ours is perfect and universal, for example. What we learn from Sarah and Hagar is that oppression of women is not foreign to women and makes us suffer.
To end this dynamic, it is not enough to change the relationships between women and men in terms of production — reproduction, public and private institutions, laws to prevent violence, etc. These things are relevant, but the real revolution is the profound transformation of each woman and women together, because we women are not only victims of oppression, we are creatures whose vital task is the daily recreation of the patriarchal world.
Compiled From:
Jesus, Muhammad and the Goddess, "The Wounded Goddess: The History of Sarah and Hagar From a Feminist Outlook" - Vanessa Rivera de la Fuente Hendren, pp. 194-210