Buddhism and Gender
Specification
● Historical and social factors that have influenced developments in Buddhist thinking about these issues
with particular reference to Thailand, including:
○ encounter with western lifestyles and values with the development of tourism after the 1980s;
○ the changing roles of men and women in society outside of religion;
○ the rights given to women by secular Thai governments.
● Developments in Buddhist thought including feminist approaches:
○ The debate leading to the revival of the Theravada order of nuns in the late 1990s.
○ Continuing debates about female ordination and the role of women in Theravada Buddhism with
reference to the work of Dhammananda and the Sakyadhita organisation.
○ Different Buddhist views about celibacy, marriage and homosexuality and transgender issues.
,Historical and Social Factors
Influencing Gender
(In Thai (Theravada) Buddhism and
Culture)
, Tourism in Thailand
Changing Nature of Thailand and Tourism - Why do people Effect on Thai Buddhists
visit Thailand?
● Increased numbers of tourists in the country have led to the increased secularisation and
● 32.5 million tourists visited Thailand in 2016: globalisation of Thailand – bringing Buddhists into contact with different religious and ethical
○ About 5,383,000 jobs in tourism industry values.
in Thailand as of 2014. ● Tourism has led Buddhists to encounter ‘Western’ lifestyles – focusing more heavily on
○ 14.1% of jobs in Thailand are supported personal gain and wealth, hedonism and pleasure, and secular norms and values.
by this industry. ● More contact with feminist movements, female independence (e.g. single female travellers)
● Cultural Tourism: 40,000 Buddhist temples, and homosexuality.
beautiful beaches and islands, parties and nightlife. ○ Law made to admit whether you’ve had homosexual sex and if you’ve been in
● Sex Tourism: This industry largely caters to Thai contact with anyone from Africa before donating blood - but Thailand was told it’s
men, regardless of the majority of the country wrong, so the law was reverted.
being Buddhist. Good number of tourists who want ● Increase in both prostitution and HIV/Aids and encouraged sex-trafficking of young girls -
to get involved. Prostitution has been illegal in HIV/AIDS has negative effect on women; disproportionately affects them.
Thailand since 1960 but this is not widely enforced.
○ Prostitution in Thailand is illegal, so sexual misbehaviour is seen as immorality, so
● Animal Tourism: Tiger temple, elephant rides,
stigma involved in seeking out contraceptives.
orangutan shows/seeing animals in their natural
habitat. ● Exposed both urban and rural communities to examples of western lifestyle and attitudes.
● 1980s Economic boom paved the way for more ● Movement to ordain women in Thailand seen as a ‘Western import’ or ‘western feminist
tourism (despite there then being an economic imposition’ - Many Thai Buddhists refuse to ordain women, esp in TB - becomes a feminist
recession in the 1990s). human rights issue, so Thai parties (as a political gov that wants global recognition) take
● From 1986 to 1989, the amount of foreign money notice of western perspectives to be seen as more progressive and modern. Thailand doesn’t
flowing into Thailand increased by 400%. want to be a country with outdated views: wants to be seen as peaceful and successful, and in
● In 2015, Thailand was the second most popular line with general global views.
Asian tourist destination after China. ● Thailand has become a democracy in the last century and relates to other countries with
democratic values.
● Buddhism is holding Thailand back financially as its key feature is to stay away from material
things - a very western view.
, Changing Roles of Women - Women in Buddha’s Time
The Role of Women in the Life of the Buddha Eight Garudhammas
● Mahayamaya – The Buddha’s mother, had a miraculous and painless birth. Was blessed by an elephant in a dream, Buddha did admit that women were capable of achieving Nirvana, but stated Nuns
showing she and unborn baby were special. should follow 8 additional rules (Eight Garudhammas - ‘heavy’ rules added to the
● Yashodara – The Buddha’s wife, whom he left to pursue the end of suffering. He saw her and his newborn son as a bhikkhuni rules) that generally inferred that they were subordinate to men.
“bond” that tied him to worldly existence. ● Show respect to all monks, including practising ones (kids)
● The Buddha had a harem of women in his palace, and he was disgusted with them after the Four Sights. ● Follow monk calendars
● After the Buddha practised strict asceticism and self-mortification, it was a woman who offered him a bowl of rice and ● Must go wherever monks go, e.g., monks go on pilgrimage in rainy seasons - they
gave him the strength to become enlightened. don't have to go, but must go with them for safety reasons if the monastery gets
● When he was meditating under the Bodhi tree, the demon Mara sent many beautiful women to tempt the Buddha away attacked (rule Buddha made after a nun was raped in a forest while alone).
from enlightenment. ● Can’t criticise monks.
● After gaining enlightenment, Siddhartha went back to Kapilavastu and converted his wife and son to Buddhism, and they ● Once they’ve been on pilgrimage, they’re questioned about it - go in front of monk
also renounced. leaders and report on what they saw as though they were observers - they’re there
to report whether anything happened. Monks don’t have to do this. Nuns are
Views of women at the time of the Buddha supposed to be there to leave the world behind, but they still have duties and
● In India at the time of the Buddha’s birth, society was patriarchal, meaning men were more important than women, and responsibilities, so they can’t fully commit to that meditative state.
were in charge of decisions for their households. ● If a nun goes against a rule, they must go through a month of discipline - go before
● When the Buddha was born, it was likely that people would have feared having a girl – seeing her as a costly vessel for authorities which will institute the discipline, including if they do not bow to a
bearing children who would have to be married off for a bride-price one day. monk, even a child monk.
● However, the introduction of the Buddhist dharma meant women, particularly in the upper classes, began to be offered ● Any relationship with a monk is forbidden.
more opportunities to pursue intellectual activities. There are two possibilities in regard to the 8 garudhammas: 1) that they were never
● Though there were strict rules for women’s conduct, esp around sexual behaviour, views of women did begin to change. spoken by the Buddha or 2) that they were spoken by the Buddha to appease the
● “Under Buddhism more than ever before, she was an individual in command of her own life until the dissolution of the societal norms of the time. In today's modern, egalitarian times, they are not
body, and less of a chattel to be only respected if the she lived through and on a man.” (D. McMahon) necessary and as the Buddha allowed for, these rules can be now changed.
Factors in Thailand that Could Influence Buddhist Views of Women (Today)
Factors that could influence Positive Views of Women Factors in Thailand that could influence Negative views of women
• Women can now advance in education, meaning they are shown to be capable • Many of the old cultural traditions in Thailand are still believed in by society - e.g., women shouldn’t be nuns.
of studying the dharma. • Buddhism is seen as part of the process that stops women from having equal rights, as within the religion men are superior to
○ Women now have access to formal education, giving them access also to women in karmic status - e.g., activities of men in the temple = punya; women in the temple = domestic activities - a woman can’t
religious education, i.e., they can all now learn to read and write = access get any karmic merit via any activity in the temple.
to RE. • In the temple, women are still given largely domestic duties.
• Women have equal rights to men in the workplace, which could influence the • Women are home-makers, and men are the leaders of the household in traditional Thai Buddhist families.
view of women in Buddhist religious communities. ○ Feminists - Buddhism wants to maintain the status quo - it's in men’s interests to keep women subordinate. Women must look
• Women have a right to vote and take part in politics, giving them a voice that after her home so that men must be free to have less distractions and earn money. Looking after the house and kids is a full
could also carry over into their religious community time job.
