A Woman’s Voice Behind the Journey to Liberation: An I-Poems Analysis of a Thai Buddhist Nun Who Leads a Successful Foundation for Underprivileged Children in Thailand

Abstract

Venerable Jutipa Tapasuth, the founder of the Dhammanurak Foundation, has dedicated her life to improving the education and quality of life for disadvantaged children and youth in Thailand. Despite facing societal challenges and marginalization as a nun, she has demonstrated remarkable leadership, earning prestigious awards such as the United Nations’ Outstanding Women Leaders in Religion and Society. This study employs the feminist “Listening Guide” methodology to explore her experiences, which highlights her dual status as a respected religious figure and a member of a marginalized group. Through in-depth interviews and non-participant observation, the research delves into her journey, utilizing the I-poem analytical framework to give voice to her personal experiences. The findings reveal a multifaceted narrative, including voices of passion, frustration, sacrifice, intolerableness, self-protection, resistance, perseverance, repentance, realization, and liberation. This approach not only amplifies her voice within the male-dominated Buddhist landscape but also provides a deeper understanding of the complexities faced by lay nuns in Thailand.