Buddhist Pagodas Can Be Active Part of Gender Equality Effort

While the core doctrine of Buddhism maintains that everyone has equal rights to obtain enlightenment and awakening, historically, there has been significant gender inequality when it comes to the roles that Cambodian girls and women can play within a pagoda. Boys and men are able to hold all positions in pagodas, such as being ordained as monks, or appointed as pagoda managers, while girls and women are only allowed to play roles subordinate to monks such as servers or cooks.

Historically, most of Cambodia’s pagodas provide young men who are monks with housing to continue their studies, while women are not able to access monkhood or even have access to live in pagodas in exchange for work or as a way to continue their higher education. This inequality is partly due to old normative beliefs — including beliefs promulgated by the Chbab Srey — as well as long-held pagoda rules.

Notably, however, studies have shown that people don’t see Buddhism in Cambodia as being at odds with a push for gender equality — and that is true even within pagodas, where monks and nuns have shown a surprising openness to progressive ideas.

In this piece, NYSEAN member Chea Sameang discusses the possibilities for Buddhist institutions in Cambodia to provide a feminist intervention for women’s education. Touching on the historical gendered hierarchies that have predominated in pagoda life, Sameang explores some of the contradictions and progressive ideals held by temple members in the modern day.

With the Neary Rattanak V blueprint in place to guide Cambodian policy to gender equality in all sectors by 2050, Sameang argues that temples could play a powerful role in empowering women and pushing feminist currents forward.