From Puntarigvivat chpt. in Raines and Maguire

Foundationally, Buddhism an equal opportunity religion for men and women
Buddha said men and women both have capacity to develop their Buddha nature (explain) and, with work, to attain enlightenment (nirvana)

Thai Buddhism – more sexist than other varieties of Buddhism
Why?

Beware of causal arguments here – some are really tautological – a chicken and egg problem

e.g. Puntarigvivat says that prostitution and women’s poverty are major elements of Thai society because there is no high status, religious order for women

Is this the case?  Or is the converse true?  No higher status religious order for women because of prostitution, poverty?

Also, in presentation, Kellie made argument that women not respected in Thai culture, therefore, not in its Buddhism

What is causal relationship among social status of women, religious belief, and economic development?????????

 
Social conditions in India (birthplace of Buddhism) when Buddha (Siddartha Gotama)
arrived on the scene

Caste system
Karma (Hinduism)
Women as servants to fathers, brothers, husbands, sati

Buddha sought to change people’s negative associations with women (daughters as a curse), to respect/venerate mothers, protect sisters