Religious Placement/Role of Women in Islam and Theravada Buddhism; A Comparative analysis

Abstract

Women has been the center of study after the enlightenment era, rise of rationalism, capitalism, industrialism, feminism, and many other isms. It has been the concern of the modern world to study gender and its identity, role, and placement in society in different fields of studies from various perspectives. One of the perspective and methodology used is of comparative analysis. In this research article I will compare the main traditional teachings, practices or ethics related to religious and spiritual placement of women in two of the major religions of the world; Islam and Theravada Buddhism in precise manner, using some major themes. Both religions are considered as influential religions of the world and exploring them through this lens is significant as both hold peculiar teachings regarding women. This article will observe the religious roles of women as their placing in religion in the true primitive raw form of both religions. The original form from where they sprouted and emerged. In case of Buddhism most of our discussion relies upon Theravada thoughts as it is the ancient form of Buddhism, and it carries teachings mostly with original text. In Islamic thought we focused upon the traditional historical events, verses and stories from Quran and Sunnah.