ipl-logo

Women's Role In Buddhism Essay

491 Words2 Pages

With the advent of Buddhism, the religious life became centered on the samgha. As women were admitted with a prominent role in the tradition, social tensions aroused, as the woman’s role in society was restricted to the home. Buddhism, unlike Hindu tradition, “did not provide an alternative vision for society” (Ellwood & McGraw, 2005, p. 164). Budhism developed as a detachment: from society and its conditioned reality, from ego and from suffering. As Ellwood & McGraw considered, the equalitarian role that Buddhism was offering to women was “an opportunity, an option not available to women before” (2005, p. 164) Women could decide to continue in their sacrificial role as daughter, wife and mother or join a tradition whose goal was outside society …show more content…

Nevertheless it is Buddha’s foster mother that is repeatedly asking for a role recognition for women in samgha. In Buddhism, there is no testimony of marriage rituals or wife’s duties even if teaching about sexuality is common. Since women were now offered the opportunity to attain nirvana and join the samgha, it is possible that marriage was a chosen path rather than a family imposed one. Women’s role is Buddhism tradition was centered on the newly created function of nuns and the Eight Special Rules. In order to join monks in monasteries and enlightenment, women had to accept in particular, to be treated as junior to any monk. Most of the monastic rules were set by monks and written with a bias. Different interpretations gave rise to contrasting views of the Eight Special Rules: some considered the role of woman being purely subordinated to men, while others viewed the rules as a way to protect women from men and Hindu paternal world. Some Buddhism movements believed that a separation of role was not required to achieve liberation. Both renunciant monks and secular householders could achieve nirvana in Mahayana sect. While some religious texts claim that only men can reach the enlightement, other stories narrate “a significant move toward an egalitarian Buddhism” (Ellwood & McGraw, 2005, p.

Show More
Related

How Did Buddhism Affect The Role Of Women In Han China

999 Words | 4 Pages

Buddhism was appealing to women because of the view that they were equal to men. In detail, Wei Shou’s “Summary of Buddhist Doctrine” in the Buddhist Doctrines and Practices explains “Women who enter the path are called nuns...if they can comprehend the rewards for good and bad acts they can gradually climb to the level of sages...” (83). This review is important because it recognizes both men and women as equals who can both accomplish salvation. Furthermore, in the “Lives of Eminent Monks”, Tiaohua writes to Seng Du, who she was previously engaged to, for leaving her and the ancestral rites and teachings of Confucian society to become a monk. Seng Du responds to her, saying “Men and women of the world, however, should adapt themselves to the times...you should pursue what you desire and admire.

Read More

Bless Me Ultima Gender Roles Essay

414 Words | 2 Pages

Analysis on the Roles of Gender in Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya narrates the story of Antonio Márez y Lunas, a seven year old boy who lives to learn that the journey to manhood is about learning to make decisions on his own. In the story, his mother hopes for Antonio to become a priest, while his father desires him to become one of the llano. Anaya cleverly uses the contrasting views of both genders to highlight Antonio's struggles of making sense that his life was a development from being an innocent young boy to being a man of wisdom and understanding. During the time of Bless Me, Ultima's writing, as in most traditional systems, women were primarily firm believers of religion (in this case, Catholicism). The teachings of Catholicism has a tendency to place women as inferior and an accessory in

Read More

What Role Did Women Play In The American Revolution

1559 Words | 7 Pages

Since the earliest times in history, women were treated inferior to men. From birth, she would face constraints on her economic independence, legal identity, and access to her property. These restraints would narrow her choice of marriage or spinsterhood. Her economic dependency was ensured by her father or husband, and women were not permitted to own land (Berkin 4-6). After she wedded, all of a woman’s rights and property became that of her husband's (Berkin 5-6).

Read More

What Was The Theme Of Gender In The Sangha

65 Words | 1 Pages

One major issue in the Sangha that has been around since the time of the historical Buddha is the theme of gender in Buddhism. The Buddha actually seems to be sexist towards women because when asked about including them in the practice of the Dharma he is very hesitant in even allowing nuns and creates a separate list of eight rules that nuns must follow.

Read More

The Role Of The Family In John Steinbeck's The Winter Of Our Discontent

1309 Words | 6 Pages

John Steinbeck grew up in a booming farming community in Salinas, California; Steinbeck’s father was a manager of a flour mill, and his mother was a former school teacher. He had a comfortable childhood until his teenage years when his father lost his job at the flour mill and opened a feed and grain store that would fail. The Steinbeck family’s finances did not begin to stabilize until John Steinbeck was in college at Stanford University when Steinbeck’s father became the county’s treasurer. John Steinbeck’s own family dynamics have had an impact on the role of family that he establishes for the protagonist in his novel The Winter of Our Discontent.

Read More

Confucianism And Daoist Women Essay

512 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout The Haunted Monestary, contrasting differences are found between Confucianist women and Daoist women. Judge Dee’s three Confucianist wives differ immensely from the Daoist women that appear throughout the novel. Not only do the characteristics of his wives differ from Daoist women; however, the ways in which males treat the women from each religion provide insight into how each religion establishes contrasting views on the treatment that women deserve. Judge Dee’s wives remain entirely obedient, quiet and caring throughout the whole novel. They remain in their room, and take great care of Judge Dee by ensuring that his clothes are clean, he is fed, and he is feeling healthy.

Read More

Sundiata Women Essay

862 Words | 4 Pages

In Sundiata, women played many roles from Mothers (raising their children) to ones filled with jealousy and hatred, to hard-working and at times oppressed beings. The responsibility of a woman being a mother comes or should come natural. Therefore a mother would do any and everything to protect their child. Sologon, whom is the mother of Sundiata portrayed this trait of a woman by fleeing with her son Sundiata to Timbuktu to avoid him being killed. Sologons fleeing was brought about by the jealousy of Sassouma Béréte, who had plotted on her son being heir to the throne.

Read More

Experiences Of Women In Ancient Mesoamerica, China, And Rome

1015 Words | 5 Pages

The women’s lives and their experiences were dependent on the status of the women. In higher societal ranks, Han Chinese women would be more protected and more respected compared to the women in the lower classes of the social hierarchy. The elite women were educated and held official positions, where the women often worked away from home (Module 6) In ancient China, specifically in the Song Dynasty, women were typically assigned more constrictive gender roles than those of Mesoamerican cultures. Confucian ideologies played an influential role in shaping Chinese society, promoting the concept that women should primarily focus on their domestic duties instead of engaging in public life (Stayer 322). As a result, women were often limited to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers, with fewer opportunities for social mobility or public engagement.

Read More

Attitude Towards Women In Early Buddhism By Alan Sponberg

592 Words | 3 Pages

These rules were created to govern the nuns and ordering them to pay respect and obey the monks. “By accepting the authority of the monks, at least nominally, the nuns did gain a more acceptable place in the eyes of the broader society” (Sponberg, 1992, p.25) This show that nuns and women are include in Buddhism. They are able to practice the religion and homage the Buddha. However, If we step back and look that this more broadly, we will still notice that inequality between male and female still occur in Buddhism.

Read More

Raisin In The Sun Gender Roles Essay

950 Words | 4 Pages

Raisin in the Sun: Gender Roles Defied Following the event of World War Two, America during the 1950s was an era of economic prosperity. Male soldiers had just returned home from war to see America “at the summit of the world”(Churchill). Many Americans were confident that the future held nothing other than peace and prosperity, so they decided to start families. However, the 1950s was also a time of radical changes. Because most of the men in the family had departed to fight in the war, women were left at home to do the housework.

Read More

Declaration Of The Rights Of Women Essay

660 Words | 3 Pages

Both the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens” and “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” discuss the roles and natural rights that should be upheld in society. However, the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens” only covers those roles and rights pertaining to men and other citizens, which at this time in history did not include women. On the other hand, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” covers the roles and rights of both men and women and discusses ways that society could improve to create equal rights for everyone. The differences in these two texts are evident in the language and length of each text. The “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens” is only three pages long compared to the fourteen page, “A

Read More

Oppression Of Women In Society

941 Words | 4 Pages

With the rise of civilization also came the rise of patriarchy-based societies and the slow decline of the importance of women in society. For the longest time the history of the world has been written by men who have been the head of the patriarchy and have forgotten the role of women in history. It is important to realize that women do in fact have a place at the table with men when it comes to importance in history, and are not just the ones cooking and serving the meal. It is women who tasked with raising the next generation. By looking at women of the past, people of the future can learn and evolve to fight oppression and gain their own power.

Read More

Women's Role In The Middle Ages Essay

1532 Words | 7 Pages

Introduction Women in the Middle ages were treated as the second class members within their social class. They were taught to be obedient to their husbands and were expected to run the household and raise children. Their role in the society, however, was much more complex, while some medieval women achieved a high level of equality with men. In the Middle Ages women had a secondary role, coming second after men.

Read More

Role Of Women In History Essay

939 Words | 4 Pages

Women have always played an important role in the history of the United States. Throughout different time periods, their roles in society and in government have changed in many ways. Whether women were helping the war manufacturing effort, striving for suffrage, helping soldiers during the war, or just raising their children; their roles have been influential to the social structure of the United States today. Their desire for equal rights, their willingness to help American soldiers, and the absence of men in the workplace are responsible for the changing role of women.

Read More

Essay On Gender Equality

868 Words | 4 Pages

Gender Equality is the only way forward. What is gender equality? Gender equality is achieved when all genders enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic participation and decision-making, and when the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored.

Read More

More about Women's Role In Buddhism Essay

Related Topics

Open Document