Women's Role In Buddhism Essay

According to some Buddhist narratives, female leadership is impossible due a woman’s inability to reach enlightenment, believed to be a limitation of her gender. In many Buddhist sutras it was taught that women could never become Buddhas. One sutra reads, "Even if the eyes of the Buddhas of the three existences were to fall to the ground, no woman of any of the realms of existence could ever attain Buddhahood. "This no doubt reflects the prevailing view of women in India in the fifth century B.C.E. where they were considered more or less the property of their husbands. However, it is said that in response to requests from his aunt and other women, Shakyamuni allowed women to become nuns and carry out monastic practice after establishing eight …show more content…
Despite playing major roles in Buddhism such as cleaning shrines and giving offerings. They usually start their days early and cook meals for the monks although they are still seen as inferior because of their gender. Monks believed that in order for a woman to become a monk, they must be reborn into men. and forming the largest group of worshipers. During childhood, women were under the care of their parents, as youths they were protected by their husbands, and in old age they were controlled by their sons. Women had very little freedom. A woman was looked down upon as a mere possession or a thing. If a married woman had no children or failed to bring a male offspring into this world she would be superceded by a second or third wife and turned out of the house. There was a strong belief that a male son must be present to continue the peace and safety of the family line. Only sons could carry out rituals which were thought to be necessary to bring security to the father and grandfather after their death. Uncertain were the lives of married women. As marriage was considered a holy sacrament, a young girl who did not marry was badly criticized and despised by