The role of male superiority in Burmese Buddhist society
My discussion with Marlar revealed just how interconnected misogyny and sexism in the mundane world are to an underlying belief in male superiority within the spiritual and religious plane of Burmese Buddhism. She explained how an unquestioned belief in the better karma of men— which she believes is a cultural Bamar assumption imposed over the historical teachings of the Buddha— has translated to men gaining preferential treatment in the home, workplace, and even holy site. In this brilliant excerpt that follows, she explains how her early questioning in a Burmese Buddhist family led directly her to her career path in researching domestic violence in Myanmar.
“I’m not convinced why a man would be superior to me.”
“When I was growing up, I never questioned why I couldn’t go to some areas in Shwedagon Pagoda. I felt very annoyed and frustrated whenever I saw those signs that women are not allowed to enter, because it was a sacred place or a holy place. Only men are allowed to enter, and I started questioning myself.
Why is there this law that makes a man as superior, and a woman as inferior? Is that why I'm not supposed to enter? So what if that man is a thief? Does he still have more superior qualities than me? This was the thought process that I always had in my mind since I was a child.
When I grew up, I started looking at other literature and listening to other peoples’ perspectives, even some prominent monks who said that this was not what Buddha taught! From from my perspective, and from my understanding, and also what I learned from other people, is that it's not what Buddha taught us.
There must have been some kind of religious practices in the past that was not very convenient for women to take part. For example, there used to be a time where we did not know about sanitary pads. We only were introduced to sanitary pads not long ago. So there were some reasons in the past that it was appropriate for that kind of practice.
But now, it's not relevant anymore. Why would I not be allowed when, for example, thieves or some type of murderers, they can allow in! So I think that these types of things are still a mystery to me…
I would love to learn more about it, because from the perspective of someone who does research on violence, I’ve found that belief is pretty much one of the main drivers of what is happening to the lives of women, and we need more proper studies on that. I'm not convinced why a man would be superior to me.”