Just men? Towards the education of men for gender justice in a context of religiously legitimised patriarchy: A South African case study

•This paper explores the education of men for gender justice in a context of religiously legitimised patriarchy.•This is done through a case study of a Catholic theological institute in South Africa.•Internal norms are identified which can be used to challenge women's subordination.•Institutional practice reveals both resistance and potential for insider advocacy.•The transformative potential of education for gender justice is identified.

This paper explores the education of men for gender justice in a context of religiously legitimised patriarchy, through a case study of a Catholic theological institute in South Africa. It draws on interviews with students and staff and participant observation conducted during a pilot study in 2011. The data highlight ideological justifications and internal norms which both support and oppose women's subjugation. The contestation of gender justice is seen in practice in both resistance and an emergent insider advocacy. Finally transformative examples of education for gender justice are described. The potential for such education is thus underlined.