Toward a Buddhist feminism: Mahayana sutras, feminist theory, and the transformation of sex

This study establishes an enlightening dialogue between Buddhism and feminism with the goal of creating a Buddhist feminist discourse. Specifically, it aims to provide a new feminist perspective on identity, sex, gender, and liberation through the feminist appropriation and critique of Mahayana sex-change sutras. Mahayana sex-change sutras, in which a female bodhisattva a engages (or refuses to engage) in sexual transformation in order to attain Buddhahood, are analyzed within their orginal, androcentric context and underlying Buddhist doctrines are highlighted. The sex-change sutras are then juxtaposed with contemporary poststructuralist feminist theory and evaluated as models for a new Buddhist feminism. In the course of-this analysis, basic Buddhist concepts are introduced, the problem of androcentrism with respect to Buddhism's institutionalization and textual preservation is discussed, and points of conjunction betweed Buddhism and feminism are emphasized. The creation of a Buddhist feminist discourse breaks its long chain of androcentrism; challenges foundationalist and essentialist thinking; and presents feminists with new avenues for theorizing identity, women, sex, gender, and liberation.