Both Divine and Deficient: Women between Discourse and Practice in East Asian Religious…

Catalog description

In this course, we will examine the main religious traditions of East Asia—— Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Shintoism, and folk practices like Shamanism—— through the lens of gender. These traditions offer diverse narratives, discourses, and prescriptions, which shaped and informed women’s religious lives. In some cases, female practitioners are treated positively, while in others, we find more disparaging depictions. As we examine the treatment of female practitioners within these traditions, we will also observe how specific historical women navigated gender expectations, created their own spaces of practice, and offered their own interpretations. The geographical breadth of the course, which includes China, Japan, and Korea, will allow us to consider historical continuities and departures between these different regions. Finally, we will also deliberate on the ways these traditions can confront and address modern issues related to women and gender.