Gender Dynamics in Exclusionary Buddhist Protectionism: Research Findings from Thailand, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Research Brief)

Buddhism has an historical association with non-violence and pacifism, yet recent developments have seen the emergence of exclusionary movements that employ violence and/or its justification to ‘protect’ Buddhism. These movements, which we refer to as Exclusionary Buddhist Protectionism (EBP), have resulted in increased intolerance, hate speech, and violence against ethnic and religious minorities in South and Southeast Asia. While EBP has gained visibility, little attention has been given to its gendered dimensions, in particular to the role of gender norms, identity, and ideology in supporting, promoting and legitimizing violence or the threat of it. In this research project we sought to understand how social constructions of gender identities, symbolism and relations may fuel or challenge EBP in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. Using a mixed-method design, which involved quantitative analysis of nationally representative surveys in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar (n=1000 each) and qualitative analysis of key informant interviews (153) and focus group discussions (67), we analyzed the relationship between gender and EBP.