Femininity and Sexuality in Vajrayāna Buddhism

Forthcoming, 2026

This book offers a comprehensive study of femininity and sexuality in Vajrayāna Buddhism, integrating Eastern and Western perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of these concepts, especially in relation to phenomena such as religious sexual abuse. It aims to critically examine the religious significance of Vajrayāna symbols of femininity, particularly ḍākinīs (Tib. mkha’ ‘gro ma), as embodiments of wisdom and enlightenment. It also seeks to analyse how the incongruent relationship between female deities and actual women affects their lives and contributes to religious sexual abuse, a significant issue within transnational Buddhism in the twenty-first century. The central focus is to explore how understanding femininity and sexuality in Vajrayāna Buddhism can contribute to the prevention of religious sexual abuse.

The subject of the book is part of the broader study of women and sexuality in religious studies, focusing on the role of women in the history of religion and their participation in religious practices. It is widely recognised that world religions have historically been patriarchal. While female religious symbols and images have the potential to empower women's spiritual identities, they can also be exploited as tools for patriarchal control. Additionally, the attitude towards women is often infused with sacredness and secrecy, intersecting with issues of authority, hierarchy, and moral ambivalence in religious contexts.