Meaning-Making and Buddhist Belief System: An Exploration of Resilience Among Buddhist Women in Sindh, Pakistan Through Social Capital

Project Title:

Meaning-Making and Buddhist Belief System: An Exploration of Resilience Among Buddhist Women in Sindh, Pakistan Through Social Capital

Research Team:

Principal Investigator: Dr. Saeeda

Co-Researcher: Dr. Lai Suat Yan, Dr. Majid Hussain, Venerable You Deng

Background:

This study explores how Sindhi Buddhist women in Pakistan, as a religious and gender minority, build resilience through social capital and community support. It examines how their Buddhist beliefs—especially principles of Humanistic Buddhism—shape their everyday strategies for coping with marginalization.

Research Objectives:

• To examine the role of social capital in promoting resilience among Buddhist women in Sindh.
• To explore the mechanisms through which Buddhist women in Sindh cultivate and sustain social networks for mutual support.
• To analyze the influence of religious and cultural traditions in shaping the resilience strategies of Buddhist women.
• To assess the impact of the interaction between gender, religion, and socio-economic forces on their resilience.

Research Methodology:

This qualitative study explores the resilience of Buddhist women in Sindh through semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, observation, and participatory activities. Fieldwork will be conducted in Noshero Feroz and Islamabad. Participants are selected via purposive and snowball sampling. Data will be thematically analyzed using MAXQDA. Ethical approval is obtained, with informed consent and honorariums provided.