By Radha dasi
Srila Prabhupäda was unapologetic and unequivocal in his statements that women need to be protected at all stages of their lives. Often, however, we make assumptions about what form that protection should take. There’s no evidence that Srila Prabhupäda intended “protection of women” to mean they could not perform Deity worship, i lead kirtans, ii speak in public, iii live in temple ashrams, iv or manage departments. v To accept that understanding we would have to accept that Srila Prabhupäda failed to protect Malati Devi Dasi, Silavati Devi Dasi, Yamuna Devi Dasi, and many others when he engaged them in such activities.