The Dalai Lama is on a nine-day tour to London and in an interview with BBC reporter Clive Myrie, the Nobel Peace Prize winner made quite an unexpected misogynist statement.
When asked about a female future successor, the 80-year-old stated that a female Dalai Lama’s “face should be very attractive” in order for her to be an effective leader. After awkwardly laughing at his response, the reporter further asked, “So you can only have a female Dalai Lama if they’re attractive? Is that what you are saying?”
The Dalai Lama stuck to his response and pointed to his face stating that “otherwise not much use.”
The Dalai Lama is known to be a support of female rights and this statement seems extremely odd.
“You’re joking, I’m assuming,” added Clive, perhaps giving him a change to take back such a, silly, for want of a better statement, from an internationally known leader. “No true,” the spiritual leader replied, laughing.
Two years ago, the Dalai Lama sounded hopeful about the prospects of a female successor. He recalls the incident, when Clive asked him this question, saying, “I think (it would be) good because you see, biologically, female(s) have more potential to develop affection or love to other. Some scientists, they tested two persons, one male, one female looking at one sort of movie. Female (was) more sensitive: response is much stronger. So therefore…now we are 21st century…female have more potential so should take more active role regarding promotion of human compassion.” With that logical reasoning we wonder what made him make such a misogynist remark. We’ll give him the benefit of doubt this time and assume that he wanted to add a pinch of humor to the whole situation, hopefully!
With that logical reasoning we wonder what made him make such a misogynist remark. We’ll give him the benefit of doubt this time and assume that he wanted to add a pinch of humor to the whole situation, hopefully!
Image courtesy: BCCL
