Chung writes that while Mary has been used by the patriarchal church to oppress Asian women, recently Asian women themselves have begun to reclaim Mary by redefining her and their relationship to her. The model of co-redeemer will not be addressed here, as it relies on specifically Christian language and imagery, and would not be relevant to those Middle Eastern women who are not Christian. Mary serves Asian women as a model of fully liberated human being in three ways. First, Chung notes that Asian women have ascribed new meaning to Mary's virginity. Instead of considering the virginity of Mary as a biological fact, Asian women are beginning to consider it as a relational situation.
Virginity now refers to a woman existing in a state of self-determination, outside of patriarchy.
And since it excludes men's participation, the virgin birth is taken as a sign from God of the beginning of the end of patriarchy. Mary as Mother provides Asian women with the second alternative for the fully liberated human being. This strong, empowered Mary made political as well as personal choices that were revolutionary. Mary as Sister models the third way for Asian women to embrace full human liberation. This aspect of Mary focuses on her solidarity with other women, is illustrated by Mary's relationship with Elizabeth, and culminates when Mary sings the Magnificat to Elizabeth.