Overview
Because of the belief that the Bhikkhuni Sangha was never established in Thailand, women have traditionally been denied the chance to become ordained members of the Buddhist clergy. Instead, for several centuries Thai women have chosen to live as Mae chees, taking the eight precepts and living either in monasteries or in dedicated communities of female renunciants. Temporary mae chees (who typically do not shave their heads) are called Chee brahmin (RTGS:chi phram) (Thai: ชีพราหมณ์).
Like monks, mae chees shave their heads and undertake precepts not generally observed by lay followers. Mae chees most commonly receive these precepts from a monk, but there is little in the way of a formal ordination ceremony for most Mae chees. Mae chees wear white robes in their daily lives, distinguishing them from both monks and other lay people. Mae ji are not recognized as monastics by the Thai government, and are not eligible for monastic benefits. Yet, they are denied the rights of other lay citizens. While the male Sangha has traditionally received considerable oversight and assistance from various government ministries, only in the 20th Century did the Thai Sangha begin to take an organized role in providing for the needs of mae chees. An institute now attempts to roughly track the number of mae chees in the country, and provides funds that can be used for educational opportunities for mae jis. The amount per person spent by the government, on supporting mae chees, is significantly less than the amount spent on monks. Likewise, mae chees do not receive certain perks (such as free passage on public transportation) that are offered to monks. Yet, mae chees - like monks - are forbidden from voting or standing for civil elections in Thailand.
In addition, mae chees have traditionally not enjoyed the same level of support given to monks by the Thai laity. Because the mae chees have no special position, as described in the Tipitaka (they are simply seen as being lay women), gifts given to a mae chees are not seen as bringing merit to the donor in the manner of gifts given to a monk. Most Thais are unfamiliar with the history of the Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha, and believe that the Buddha never ordained women. Others believe that women have become mae chees because they can't find a husband or to escape personal and family problems.
Most mae chees live on the premise of a temple. The temple may provide daily meals and lodging. But in general, mae chees are expected to provide for themselves, through support from relatives, and the temples do not care for them as they do their monks. Most mae jis essentially act as servants or staff for the temple, cooking and cleaning for the monks and overseeing the sale of incense and other offerings to visitors to the temple.
Smaller numbers of Mae chees live in their own communities, which may or may not be associated with a local monastery. Women in these communities often experience better conditions those living in traditional monasteries. The separation of the male and female renunciants helps discourage the Mae chees being used as servants by monks and temple staff.
Read more about this topic: Mae Ji