Francisca Mandeya

Mother Behold Thy Son Francisca Mandeya

Francisca Mandeya believes in Maternal Power-in the sacred bond created when a child begins its journey in its mother's body, intricately bound by a connection even stronger than the umbilical cord. Born girl number three, experiencing inequality right from birth, and reclaiming her indigenous name Ndaiziweyi undocumented by the government-she began a lifelong commitment to practicing gender equality in her home. (Indeed, her song, "Takaenzana/We Are Equal" is on the 2010 album she recorded with her children and used by the Africa Outreach USA Foundation.) Mandeya is convinced that the untapped potential of maternal power is a transformational force in the struggle for gender equality. In Mother, Behold Thy Son, she takes readers inside her most personal experiences to demonstrate how mothers can use storytelling-coupled with their innate maternal power-to not just help their sons to reject toxic masculinity but also to model how their daughters can become authentic equals. Proclaiming that "vulnerable is the new strong", Mandeya believes that acknowledging vulnerability, insisting on visibility, and modeling authenticity are key steps to take on the healing path leading to an end of suffering in our lives. In addition to sharing her powerful story of awakening and transformation-from her native Zimbabwe to her home in the Canadian Arctic-she guides readers through simple action steps designed to make the world more equitable. Mother, Behold Thy Son is a book for anyone ready to take action to achieve radical transformation in their lives, communities and the world.