Voices of Buddhism - Is There Gender Equality?

This Video ethnographic study aims to capture the perception of gender equality in Buddhist institutions in Taiwan from the perspective of practitioners. Interviews with monastics - among them Ven. Chao Hwei, an activist for gay rights in Buddhism - and volunteers of both genders explore any practical experiences they have with gender (in)equality and their attitudes towards theoretical concepts like the attainability of Buddhahood for women. Video/audio recordings are the ideal medium for this exploration, because they not only capture facial expressions, body language, and gestures but also tone of voice, pauses, and inflections, helping to interpret meaning more accurately, especially when those nuances are not in sync with the spoken word. This study explores how people in Buddhist communities experience and understand gender equality, highlighting the differences between official teachings and everyday life. By sharing the voices of practitioners, it adds to the wider conversation about gender roles in religion in East Asia and helps support efforts to create more inclusive spiritual practices.