The Buddhist community has always consisted of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, in that order, largely in deference to the social and cultural structures and conditions of the tradition's birth. However, the question of women's place and standing within Buddhism has, throughout its 2,600-year history, remained problematic and contentious.
As Buddhist traditions have moved into Western geographic spaces, more attention has been focused on the issue of women, and various strategies and attempts to correct the historical record have been offered. Women are rediscovering and reasserting their place in Buddhism in a variety of ways. For example, the number of women who now head dharma centers, particularly in the West, is striking. Powerful books addressing the role and history of women in Buddhism have opened our eyes and helped women raise their voices. This women's issue of Buddhadharma is one more step on that journey.
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