Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable Development
Thai nuns, known as Mae Chee who shave their heads, don white clothing, and adhere to a monastic-like lifestyle, have an ambiguous status among Thai Buddhist practitioners. Despite their monastic-like lifestyle, they fall under the official category of laywomen (Upasika). Nevertheless, they are some...
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Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of International Buddhist Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/5813 |
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| author | Metteyya Beliatte Yaoping Liu Chompoo Gotiram Chatchai Rakthin |
| author_facet | Metteyya Beliatte Yaoping Liu Chompoo Gotiram Chatchai Rakthin |
| author_sort | Metteyya Beliatte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thai nuns, known as Mae Chee who shave their heads, don white clothing, and adhere to a monastic-like lifestyle, have an ambiguous status among Thai Buddhist practitioners. Despite their monastic-like lifestyle, they fall under the official category of laywomen (Upasika). Nevertheless, they are sometimes treated as monastics and some government agencies see them as renunciants, hindering them from receiving full benefits from either category. They encounter societal disadvantages and adverse stereotypes. Their living conditions are inadequate, with restricted options for studying and executing tasks. Scholars think that pursuing official monastic status or reinstating bhikkhuni ordination are the most effective methods to enhance the social standing of these underprivileged women. Religious feminist researchers are leading the cause with the singular aim of attaining equal status to male monastics, without regard for the actual consequence after that goal is realized. Nevertheless, their efforts have not been successful in improving their quality of life, even though they have been struggling for a long time. This research employs critical discourse analysis and thematic analysis of qualitative data obtained through interviews and observations to analyze these efforts through the lens of sustainable development, arguing that these ongoing efforts may not only hinder sustainable development but also push them towards greater subordination within the institutional patriarchy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-881921efdb1a4e1ab40aafc02c51d64d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1906-6244 2586-9620 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of International Buddhist Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-881921efdb1a4e1ab40aafc02c51d64d2025-08-20T02:44:08ZengMahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya UniversityJournal of International Buddhist Studies1906-62442586-96202025-05-01161345310.5281/zenodo.157658055831Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable DevelopmentMetteyya Beliatte0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7965-7665Yaoping Liu1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5712-6868Chompoo Gotiram2Chatchai Rakthin3Department of Global Buddhism, Institute of Science Innovation and Culture, Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, ThailandDepartment of Global Buddhism, Institute of Science Innovation and Culture, Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, ThailandDepartment of Global Buddhism, Institute of Science Innovation and Culture, Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, ThailandInstitute of Science Innovation and Culture, Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, ThailandThai nuns, known as Mae Chee who shave their heads, don white clothing, and adhere to a monastic-like lifestyle, have an ambiguous status among Thai Buddhist practitioners. Despite their monastic-like lifestyle, they fall under the official category of laywomen (Upasika). Nevertheless, they are sometimes treated as monastics and some government agencies see them as renunciants, hindering them from receiving full benefits from either category. They encounter societal disadvantages and adverse stereotypes. Their living conditions are inadequate, with restricted options for studying and executing tasks. Scholars think that pursuing official monastic status or reinstating bhikkhuni ordination are the most effective methods to enhance the social standing of these underprivileged women. Religious feminist researchers are leading the cause with the singular aim of attaining equal status to male monastics, without regard for the actual consequence after that goal is realized. Nevertheless, their efforts have not been successful in improving their quality of life, even though they have been struggling for a long time. This research employs critical discourse analysis and thematic analysis of qualitative data obtained through interviews and observations to analyze these efforts through the lens of sustainable development, arguing that these ongoing efforts may not only hinder sustainable development but also push them towards greater subordination within the institutional patriarchy.https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/5813gender equalitywomen empowermentmae cheesthai nunstheravada buddhismthai buddhist nunneriesthai buddhismreligious feminismsustainable development |
| spellingShingle | Metteyya Beliatte Yaoping Liu Chompoo Gotiram Chatchai Rakthin Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable Development Journal of International Buddhist Studies gender equality women empowerment mae chees thai nuns theravada buddhism thai buddhist nunneries thai buddhism religious feminism sustainable development |
| title | Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable Development |
| title_full | Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable Development |
| title_fullStr | Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable Development |
| title_short | Empowering Thai Nuns Towards Sustainable Development |
| title_sort | empowering thai nuns towards sustainable development |
| topic | gender equality women empowerment mae chees thai nuns theravada buddhism thai buddhist nunneries thai buddhism religious feminism sustainable development |
| url | https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/5813 |
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