Gender equity & inclusivity in
the Hare Krishna Movement
Gender equity means equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities irrespective of a person's gender identity.
What is gender equity?
Gender equality prevents violence against women and girls. It's essential for economic prosperity and the growth of a healthy congregation.
Why is gender equity important?
Gender equity ensures fairness for every gender according to their respective needs. It protects a person's rights, roles, and opportunities, no matter if they identify as male, female, or non-binary.
What does gender equity do?
Societies that value women and men as equal are safer and healthier.
The benefit of gender equity:
Gender equity works by eliminating gender bias. Here are some ways to eliminate gender bias in your community
Be transparent.
Support the elevation of women into senior / leadership roles.
Provide training on unconscious bias.
Have a clear policy on discrimination
Set clear rules in regards to how people should be treated.
Challenge any negative attitudes.
Treat everyone fairly and equally.
How does gender equity work?
PLEASE NOTE: We’re addressing gender equity in binary terms on this page for the sake of speaking to the issues of equity and inclusivity as they specifically relate to relationships between men and women. For information about the broader issue of equity and inclusivity as it pertains to non-binary identities, check out our LGBTQIA+ page.
RESOURCES
A look behind the scenes of what's working at the Gainesville project and the thumb wrestling between the progressive elements of the NA GBC and the 'conservative' (Vedic Traditionalist) elements of the Indian yatra.
Kalakantha Prabhu:
Srimad Bhagavatam Class
HDG explores the role of hierarchy versus equality and the perspective each encourages in the process of outreach. Also the tendency toward ISKCON as a by-product of Indian culture. He also discusses how leaning into our Indian roots means leaning away from everyone else.
Hridayananda dasa Goswami:
‘This is not Harry Potter;
it is a Spiritual Science.’
About defining the difference between equity and equality: gender equity is not about seeing men and women as being ‘the same,’ but ensuring that men and women both have access to resources according to their individual needs.