April 22, 2024 On Campus
Brace Student Fellow Presentation
Nadia Choophungart ’24
Religion is a force that guides various social structures and communities, branching out to impact both law and social convention. Yet the way religion is implemented in daily life is often tied to other systems, such as gender. In Thailand, the powerful influence of Theravada Buddhism has developed from the country’s history and predominantly Buddhist population, and the gendered scripts that Theravada Buddhism follows directly affect the secular and spiritual lives of Thai women.
In this presentation, Nadia Choophungart ’24 examines the networks of power that impact women in historically gendered and patriarchal religions. Through analysis of both historical texts and existing law, she investigates who and what holds the power to determine what Buddhism stands for and explores current examples of Buddhist feminism, specifically the Thai Bhikkhuni order and merit-making (alms-giving) traditions that are transforming traditions and practices.
Open to the PA community; dinner will be served.
Faculty Advisor: Amanda Foushee, Instructor in English
School Room, Abbot HallA Religion Reimagined: How Women in Thailand Are Reshaping Theravada Buddhism
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., School Room, Abbot HallBrace Student Fellow Presentation
Nadia Choophungart ’24
Religion is a force that guides various social structures and communities, branching out to impact both law and social convention. Yet the way religion is implemented in daily life is often tied to other systems, such as gender. In Thailand, the powerful influence of Theravada Buddhism has developed from the country’s history and predominantly Buddhist population, and the gendered scripts that Theravada Buddhism follows directly affect the secular and spiritual lives of Thai women.
In this presentation, Nadia Choophungart ’24 examines the networks of power that impact women in historically gendered and patriarchal religions. Through analysis of both historical texts and existing law, she investigates who and what holds the power to determine what Buddhism stands for and explores current examples of Buddhist feminism, specifically the Thai Bhikkhuni order and merit-making (alms-giving) traditions that are transforming traditions and practices.
Open to the PA community; dinner will be served.
Faculty Advisor: Amanda Foushee, Instructor in English