Religion 241 - Women & Buddhism

This course explores women and Buddhism during different historical periods and in different cultures. Through a variety of sources, this course will illuminate Buddhist concepts of gender and sexuality, views of women's spiritual capacities, the diversity of women's images, roles, experiences, concerns, and contributions in Buddhist societies, and scholarly approaches to women in Buddhism. Special attention will be given to how gender is constructed in each cultural and religious context encountered, with particular emphasis on Buddhist women in Southeast Asia. We will look into the reasons why texts on religion have not always included the voices of women, and we will investigate ways to uncover them through research techniques and alternative hermeneutical strategies.