what are some buddhism gender roles?

Answer 1

Buddhism and Gender Equality

Historical Background

Buddhism developed in the context of an Indian society that was patriarchal. Women were seen as subservient to men and very much dependent on them (see Hindu Views on Marriage). In Hinduism, the main religion in India at the time of the Buddha, only men were able to become priests. This meant that before a woman could be freed from samsara she had to be reborn as a male (as priests were the highest caste in Hinduism - for more on this see Equality in Indian Society). There was also the unfortunate practice of widow burning (sati) in which it was deemed a great honour for a woman to be cremated with her husband.

The first Buddhist nun was the Buddha's aunt, Prajapati (who brought him up after the death of his mother). At first Siddhartha was reluctant to allow her to join the monastic sangha because he said women would not understand his teaching. This seems to be a strange attitude for one who promoted compassion and loving kindness (metta) towards all living things. Some Buddhists choose to ignore this discrepancy in the Buddha's early life however others point out that he was simply expressing a typical Indian attitude towards women at the time. This is because they acknowledge that unlike Jesus (who Christians believe was always different to the average person), the Buddha began life as just an ordinary man (although admittedly he was significantly extraordinary in that he ended up making a major contribution to the Indian and global religious landscape).[1]

The key to understanding the Buddha's change of attitude towards women is his teaching about anicca (everything changes). Ananda, the Buddha's cousin, used the idea of impermanence to show that just because Indian culture treated women this way, this was not necessarily the way things should remain. As a result the Buddha changed his attitude and allowed women to enter the sangha and become a real part of the Buddhist community. The death of Prajapati's husband also demonstrated the reality of impermanence and allowed her to become someone different to the person she was when married (E.g. As a wife her life would revolve around her husband).

In many respect this change in the status of women is similar to that which occurred in Christianity during the development and growth of the early church. Traditional Jewish culture, from which Christianity developed, tended to deny women the right to be educated in the same way that men were. However, through the teachings of both Jesus and Paul women were gradually given equality with men (Galatians 3:28), allowed to be educated and hold positions of leadership in the church (for more on this see The Role of Women in the Church).

In the earliest form of Buddhism, called Theravada, there was a conscious effort to follow the Buddha's lifestyle as closely as possible. The ever-increasing amount of rules and regulations to assist this came to be known as the Vinaya. As all scholars of Buddhism are quick to point out, there were many more rules for women than men however this may have been to protect them in a sexist society. Although the Vinaya required men to be present at nun's religious ceremonies this is likely to have been in order to protect them. It was certainly not to oversee or lead them in spiritual matters.

Despite the Buddha's inclusion of women to the monastic sangha some monks believed their presence was a hindrance to them attaining Enlightenment. This was because they were finding the women sexually attractive and as a result this increased their desires (which they were trying to overcome to reach nirvana (which is the extinguishing of desires)). The Buddha also became concerned about this but only in the sense that to view women in this way was degrading to them. In the end, nunneries would be phased out however this was more due to the pressures of a society which reacted against women being allowed to adopt new roles previously denied to them.[2]

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Buddhist Teachings which Promote Gender Equality

Traditional Buddhist teaching naturally lends itself to the idea of gender equality. For instance, the idea of anatta (non-self) breaks down the divisions between male and female. Gender is often defined according to a fixed idea of what is considered masculine and feminine and as such male and female roles in society. These fixed ideas are often the cause of sexual stereotypes (for more on this see Gender Equality). However, if one has no fixed 'self' then such gender definitions become ambiguous (although this is not to say that there are no men and women!). In many respects the removal of divisions between men and women is also at the heart of Feminism which seeks to raise the status of women in a world which, according to them, has been shaped by men and male interests.

At the heart of Buddhism is the problem of dukkha (suffering). This is not only physical but also involves much emotional and psychological suffering caused through bad actions or attitudes. An example of how dukkha may arise in relation to women is if they are denied opportunities due to being discriminated against on the basis of their gender (E.g. Women should not be mechanics because that is a man's job). Combined with this is the idea of compassion which is the promotion of respect and dignity for all living things. Clearly, if women are not being treated equally then compassion is not being demonstrated.

Although the third precept challenges the sexual relationships of men and women, once again it is the first precept which encourages the development of wholesome attitudes by men and women towards each other ('I undertake not to take life'). As discussed in the section on Buddhism and Medical Ethics, this precept does not just involve the literal physical taking of life but anything which promotes attitudes that deny people a quality of life. Thus it is vital for Buddhists that society is seen to protect and promote equal opportunities for both men and women.

It should be remembered that despite these teachings traditional Buddhists believe that, although men and women are equal, they have different roles. They believe it is the role of the man (husband) to provide for the family whilst it is the role of the woman (wife) to care for it (for more on this see Buddhism, Marriage and Divorce). This attitude can also be seen in the separation of monks and nuns (also for reasons discussed earlier - and maybe the practical purpose of protecting both from breaking the third precept ('I undertake to avoid sexual misconduct')).

Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO)

The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order are a group of Buddhists who promote a revised form of Buddhism in Britain (as well as other places around the world). They are fundamentally committed to gender equality as can be seen in the following passage:

At the [heart] of the FWBO we therefore find a unified Order of women and men; everything in the Order is open to women and men; they take the same ordination and vows; they exercise the same functions at public centers; they practice the same mediations; study the same texts, and so on. In the FWBO we feel that no one should be excluded from the process of higher human development [Enlightenment] , whether on grounds of sex, race, colour, level of education, or social position. (Teach Yourself Buddhism p.125 - [My brackets])

Female Bodhisattvas and Buddhas

In Vajrayana (or Tibetan) Buddhism there are many female Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The most well known is Green Tara whose name means 'She who saves'. There is also the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin, whose name means 'Compassion' as well as Prajnaparamita who is known as the mother of all Buddha's because she represents anicca (the fundamental truth of life). This shows that the truth of Buddhism can be represented to people in both male and female forms.

Footnotes

[1] It is interesting that both Jesus and Buddha rejected the religion they had been brought up to believe in to develop teachings which were to become the basis of new religions and what we know as Christianity (Jesus was brought up as a Jew) and Buddhism (Buddha was brought up as a Hindu).

[2] The traditional Hindu view is that priests should be male. By allowing women to become nuns Buddhists were essentially giving women the same spiritual authority as men.

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Answer 2

Gender Roles In Buddhism

Answer 3

Buddhism Gender Roles

Answer 4

If you're referring to male vs. female only roles, there are only a few, like whether you're classified as a "monk" or a "nun" and the differences in how one conducts themselves as either in the Vinaya (which CAN read as pretty sexist depending on how you look at it, but you have to understand that those teachings were laid down at a specific time, for specific groups, for a specific reason... they were having problems within the monastic community).

The issue of gender CAN get a little bit "sticky" when it comes to some teachers within Buddhism, some of it can be sexist, especially when a lama declares that someone should wish to be reborn as a male... but I think that's just cultural understanding of the sexes sort of coloring their view.

Gender roles, as they apply to making sure nuns are getting a chance to move up and take full vows is being worked and problems are being re-evaluated, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama working diligently to assure equality is being met. As roles apply to tantra, those lines are also being discussed with the concept of the LGBT community getting involved and better understanding of LGBT issues.

Hope this helps some or was at least what you were asking about.

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Answer 5

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All the major religions recognize that we are created male and female, and that our happiness lies in making a good marriage by entering into a permanent mating relationship. There is no question that our sex roles are related to our biological sex, which is indelibly recorded in each of the 10 trillion cells in our body: XX for female, XY for male. Testosterone levels before birth are associated with masculine behavior. If we are designed for permanent mating, the masculine behavior of men (e.g., getting tough enough to withstand criticism, devotion to a profession that can support a family) and the feminine behavior of women (e.g., a greater sensitivity to emotional needs of children, a greater capacity for love) are essential to our human design. Cheers, Bruce