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Taoism and Gender Equality
Brooke Casey, Dulce Hernandez, Lilly Huizar, Morgan Anderson, Spuritha Bhandaru
University of South Florida
REL 3167: Sustainable Development and Religion
Mr. Don Saunders
April 2, 2023
2
Introduction
In this rapidly growing world, it is important for us to understand how differences have
led to disparity and become obstacles to growth. One major field that requires particular attention
is gender. The need for gender equality is not new, yet it is always a necessity. The 5th United
Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG, n.d.), “achieve gender equality and empower
all women and girls,” emphasizes current global inequalities and establishes guidelines for
achieving equality. To tackle this problem, several religion-based and faith-based organizations
have started addressing equality. This paper specifically focuses on how Taoism and Taoist
organizations are making an effort to bridge the gap to build gender equality, with concentration
on issues in Tampa and Florida. The paper starts with an introduction to Taoism and its principles
and moves on to its views on gender equality and how FBOs are addressing the local issues.
Description of Taoism
Harmony is the basis of happiness, according to Taoism, a religion that maintains
outstanding principles and ideals. Some people can compare it to other religions such as
Buddhism and Confucianism, which actively pursue a path of harmony and peace. The spiritual
and intellectual heritage of Taoism is grounded in nature, worship, and divination. Although
Taoism has no distinct founder or date of origin, its upbringing came from China and has since
spread to other East Asian Countries. From the time around the third or fourth BCE, it has been
linked to the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu.
Even though Lao was considered to be a philosopher, due to the scarcity of information
about him, some people thought he was a god or perhaps another type of deity. Lao published a
book called
Tao Te Ching,
which translates to “the way of integrity” or “the way and its power.”
3
Within its verses, T
ao Te Ching
offers a dissertation on how to live in the world with decency
and integrity. The fundamental principles of Taoism simplicity, patience, and compassion simply
go hand in hand with this. Violence would decrease if more individuals embraced and advocated
for peace. A recognizable symbol that affiliates with Taoism is yin and yang, two colons
connected with one side being white and the other black. Its contrasting hues are meant to
symbolize the harmony between conflicting energies, for instance, light and dark, feminine and
masculine, life and death, and so forth.
There are no intentions of discrimination but rather an understanding of the differences to
unify a community. With this in mind, Taoists must learn to live in harmony with nature and
respect it as a deity due to its contribution to their communities. In other words, lead your own
life while avoiding interfering with nature. Should a person try to disrupt this balance, “he would
disrupt the harmony that already exists, he would go against the flow of life” (Gehrmann, 2015).
Once after death, Taoist spirits can dwell in spiritual immortality by blending in with nature
before their souls join the universe.
As previously stated, Taoism is similar to Buddhism and Confucianism as they all have
Chinese roots and similar teachings and rituals. Taoists seek to liberate themselves from society
and realign it with the more fundamental natural order, Buddhists ultimately seek to liberate the
self by dissolving all forms of order, and Confucianism places the self hierarchically within
social order (Meulenbeld, 2019). To practice mindfulness and be in tune with their spirituality,
followers of these religions cultivate meditation.
During meditation, Taoists will start with a clear mind and then focus on things that will
bring them luck or fortune, or do some internal reflections. Buddhist meditation focuses on
breathing and giving good vibes to those who one feels good about, who one has no opinion of,
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and who one does not particularly like. Confucianism is a mixture of these practices where
essentially, they are finding their internal-peaceful state while “letting go and allowing God to
work” (
Worldmark Encyclopedia of religious practices
, n.d.).
How Taoism views gender & equality
Taoism, a religious tradition originating in China, has been the topic of discussion
regarding its approach toward gender equality. While the teachings of Taoism emphasize the
importance of balance and harmony between the yin and yang, which represent the feminine and
masculine energies, there have been concerns about gender inequality. This section will focus
solely on gender equality and inequality in Taoism.
The traditional Chinese culture has been patriarchal, and this has impacted the Taoist
approach to gender. Historically, women were expected to conform to gender roles that centered
around domestic duties and were excluded from positions of power and influence. Taoist texts
also emphasized the importance of the male role in spiritual development and suggested that
women should focus on domestic duties. This cultural context has influenced Taoist practices
and teachings, which have been criticized for preserving gender inequality. Furthermore, Taoist
sexual
practices
have
also
been
criticized
for objectifying women and promoting male
dominance. Many argue that these practices, based on the principles of yin and yang, have been
used to justify male dominance in sexual relationships; however, Taoism also has the potential to
promote gender equality and empowerment. Taoist teachings emphasize the importance of
self-cultivation, humility, and compassion, which are qualities that can be developed by both
men and women. Many Taoist practices such as meditation and tai chi are accessible to both
genders and can promote physical and mental well-being.
5
In recent years, there have been efforts to promote gender equality and challenge
traditional gender roles in Taoism. For instance, female Taoist scholars have challenged
traditional interpretations of Taoist texts and practices that have historically excluded women
from positions of power and influence. They argue that a more inclusive and egalitarian approach
is necessary to achieve gender equality in Taoism. Many Taoist associations aim to promote the
study and practice of Taoism among women, support female Taoist priests and teachers, and
challenge traditional gender roles in Taoism. Through these efforts, gender equality in Taoism is
gradually gaining traction.
The International Taoist Tai Chi Society is an example of a group that is actively
promoting gender equality within its community and teachings. The organization has a Women's
Committee that aims to "empower and support women in their Tai Chi practice and in their lives"
(Taoist Tai Chi Society, 2023). The committee hosts workshops, seminars, and conferences that
address gender issues and promote inclusivity within the Taoist Tai Chi community.
However, there is still much work to be done to address gender inequality within Taoism.
The tradition continues to be influenced by societal and cultural factors that have led to the
marginalization of women in many aspects of practice and leadership. It is important for
practitioners and scholars to continue to examine the teachings of the tradition and work towards
greater inclusivity and gender equality. While Taoism has been criticized for perpetuating gender
inequality, it also has the potential to promote gender equality and empowerment. Efforts to
promote gender equality in Taoism have gained momentum in recent years, with female Taoist
scholars challenging traditional gender roles in Taoism. The significance of these efforts in
promoting gender equality within Taoism is undeniable.
6
Local issues concerning UNSDG 5
There are several local concerns in the Tampa and Florida communities that go against the
targets of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal on Gender Equality. Currently, the Florida
government is looking to pass a bill that severely limits access to safe abortions in almost all
circumstances for women. Though there are exceptions for women who become pregnant due to
rape and incest, there are strict guidelines that require the women to provide “evidence.” These
processes often take too long to meet the approved time for her to get an abortion, and they are
discriminatory because it re-traumatizes the women from the gender-based violence they
previously faced. Additionally, Hillsborough County has the highest rate of all Florida counties
in denying teenage girls abortions (Ellenbogen, 2023). The proposal and likely passage of this
law goes against target 5.6 of UNSDG 5: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive
health and reproductive rights.” This target calls for women between the ages 15-49 to be able to
make their own medical decisions on reproductive health care.
The inability to receive safe abortions in Florida goes against this target because women
and girls lose autonomy over their health, body, and future. This issue in Florida can be linked to
the lack of female representation in state and federal politics. Of the 27 U.S. Representatives in
the House from Florida, only eight are women. No U.S. Senators from Florida have been women
(IWPR, 2020). Further, only 41.3% of state legislature seats in FL are held by women (CAWP,
2023). Minimal female representation in state and federal legislatures means laws that affect
women are not often written by women. Because of this, women are impacted by laws (such as
abortion access) that they did not approve the passage of. Their interests are not being protected
because representation is not there, and the majority male lawmakers have not personally
experienced women’s issues. This is why the UN has established target 5.5: “Ensure women’s
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full
and
effective
participation
and
equal
opportunities
for
leadership
at
all
levels
of
decision-making in political, economic, and public life.” The political representation must be an
accurate portrayal of the population, and the UN also states that equal representation in national
political leadership would take another 40 years to be reached if it’s kept at the same pace it is
now.
Another issue regarding gender inequality that has recently been on the rise in Tampa is
domestic violence. Three people died from domestic violence during the week of December 20
th
,
2022 alone as cases began to rise in the city (Clowe, 2022). It is necessary to reduce the number
of
these
incidents
to
protect
female
and
male
victims
alike.
Still,
domestic
violence
overwhelmingly affects women more than men, which is why the United Nations is pushing for
the protection of women and girls through target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all
women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other
types of exploitation.” Even human trafficking has revealed itself as a local Tampa issue. Eight
victims between the ages of 18-24 were recently rescued in Tampa, and those victims had been
forced to work in “adult entertainment clubs'' throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties
(Beltran, 2022).
The rise in gender-based violence is a critical issue that needs to be addressed through
compliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. There needs to be systemic
change through local and national governments to find effective ways to protect the safety of
women
and
girls,
increase
female
political
representation,
and
provide
access
to
safe
reproductive healthcare. However, it is also critical to view how issues in gender equality can be
addressed through a religious lens.
8
How Taoist FBOs are working toward gender equality
Taoism strongly believes in harmony and peace and to achieve universal peace, it is
essential that we bridge that gap to attain gender equality. Taoist FBOs focus on the principle that
a man must place his will in harmony in the universe and not go against it (Gehrrmen, 2015). By
the concept of Yin Yang, masculine and feminine energies are inseparable.
One such organization is the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture (ITEA).
ITEA’s mission is to empower communities, transform the ethical principles of individuals to
promote healthy lives, and maximize individual potential through working with nature. Their
work
towards
empowering
communities
has
been
applauded
for
strengthening women's
confidence in dominant male communities (Institute of Taoist Education & Acupuncture, 2022).
Another such organization is the Taoist Tai Chi Society, whose Florida chapter is located
in Orlando. Its belief is to build strength in communities through Taoist arts, promote greater
understanding and harmony amongst people from different backgrounds all around the world,
and alleviate suffering (Taoist Tai Chi Society, n.d.). Without promoting greater understanding
amongst a community in terms of gender, the goals of equality and equity can never be reached
as the differences will only cause growth in disparities.
The Tai Chi Qi Gong Healing Institution, whose Florida Chapter is located in Sarasota,
focuses
on
health
improvement
through Taoist arts and focuses on healthy relationship
development
through
Taoist
ethical
principles
(“Tai
Chi Qi Gong”, n.d.). With healthy
relationship development, the focus on respect towards women is improved along with teaching
ways how to strengthen female communities. Holistic Health is also considered very important
by them and instructors treat the process of healing differently from individual to individual.
9
Such organizations are very powerful, especially when it comes to healing mental health
illnesses in females due to the absence of gender equality.
Solutions
As has been noted, abortion has been considered a political issue since before the
original landmark ruling of Roe v. Wade and its subsequent overrule. Moreover, within the
United States, abortion is also considered to be a moral issue; wherein most cases, moral
arguments against abortion are used to legitimize abortion as a partisan issue. Consequently, the
moralizing of abortion has been an impediment for women’s rights activists who wish to see
access to legal abortions continue. As activists for women’s rights search for potential solutions
to the challenges being posed to legal abortion access, the tenets of Taoism can provide insight
into implementing viable solutions.
Firstly, an understanding of the moral arguments against abortions is essential to therefore
understanding how a Taoist perspective on abortion is valuable in ensuring its legality. In the
United States, the most popular arguments against the practice of abortion stem from Christian
ideology, where the earliest known opposition to abortion can be traced to the 1
st
and 2
nd
centuries
of the Common Era (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d.). In
Christianity, it is commonly believed that human life begins at conception, meaning that newly
formed embryos are believed to hold the same level of personhood and sentience as an
already-born human being. As a result, those that hold beliefs that liken the personage of
embryos and fetuses to that of born humans, equate abortion to murder.
This ideology then leads to the argument that abortion should be criminalized similarly to
murder, as abortion is viewed as murder. In these instances of moral pushback to legal abortion
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10
access, Taoism can be utilized in illuminating a solution. Contrary to widespread Christian belief,
Taoism does not believe in the concept of morality and instead, as previously noted, considers
the concepts of yin and yang. To further illustrate, take for example the Christian concepts of
moral “good” and “evil”, where morally “good” or “evil” qualities can be intrinsically ascribed
to human actions (Pierce, 2018). In Taoism, it is not possible for a person’s actions to be
considered moral or immoral, which is where this Taoist principle relates to abortion.
Currently, the dialogue surrounding abortion and its legality center on the morality of
abortion as a human action. Taoism’s rejection of morality can be implemented in these
instances. Rather than employing moralized rhetoric for the justification of abortion in dialogues,
conscious efforts should be made to reframe abortion in a manner that highlights the functional
role it plays in reproductive healthcare. For women with severe pregnancy complications,
induced abortions might be necessary in preventing the endangerment of their health and lives.
Abortions may also be needed in instances of failed contraceptives, rape and incest, fetal
anomalies,
and
intimate
partner
violence
(The
American
College
of
Obstetricians
and
Gynecologists,
2023).
Another
method
of
distancing
abortion
from moral opposition is
increasing
educational
efforts
that
focus
on
dispelling
common
abortion
myths
and
misinformation surrounding fetal development.
Common abortion myths include allegations that cite abortion as a surgical procedure,
claims about abortion being dangerous and resulting in infertility, as well as assertions about
abortion causing long-term psychological distress in women. Misinformation surrounding fetal
development, particularly the idea that a fetus is able to feel pain, are typically used to reinforce
moral arguments against abortion (Cofer, 2022).
11
Conclusion
Gender inequality is both a global and local issue, as several attacks on women’s rights and
equalities have continued to occur in recent times, especially regarding the right to an abortion in
the Florida areas. The guiding principles of the fifth United Nations Sustainable Development
goal set forth ways to accomplish equal gender rights, with special focus on reproductive
healthcare, education, and political representation. Applying the tenets of Taoism can help
communities achieve gender equality by prioritizing harmony of masculine and feminine
energies, and by removing personal judgment on what is considered moral or immoral. A focus
on harmony further minimizes instances of violence, which often appear as gender-based
violence in many communities. Taoist Faith Based Organizations continue to strengthen
individuals and relationships to form a more inclusive, confident, and equal society.
12
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