Women are viewed as lower in general but some times as better than men.
Impossibility of a women being a Sammasambuddha, wheel-turning monarch, Sakka, Brahma-being, Mara, :
In the debate on the caste system The Buddha mentioned that high-caste women are still lower (as a flaw in the caste system):“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a woman to be a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha. But it is possible for a man to be a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha.”
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a woman to be a wheel-turning monarch. But it is possible for a man to be a wheel-turning monarch.”
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for a woman to perform the role of Sakka, Māra, or Brahmā. But it is possible for a man to perform the role of Sakka, Māra, or Brahmā.” - AN 1.279–283
He seemed to have no issue with any male of any caste joining the order of monks but had a really big issue with women joining, only after Ananda requesting 3 times and debating did The Buddha allow women to join:“But Assalāyana, brahmin women are seen menstruating, being pregnant, giving birth, and breastfeeding. Yet even though they’re born from a brahmin womb they say: ‘Only brahmins are the highest caste; other castes are inferior." - MN 93
Interesting to note that Ananda is also the same person who refused to ask The Buddha to stay alive until the eon ends even when hinted many times (also the same person blamed for allowing women to enter thereby causing the pure dhamma to last only 500 years).“Enough, Ānanda. Don’t advocate for females to gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”
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A nun, even if she has been ordained for a hundred years, should bow down to a monk who was ordained that very day. She should rise up for him, greet him with joined palms, and observe proper etiquette toward him. This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.
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From this day forth it is forbidden for nuns to criticize monks, but it is not forbidden for monks to criticize nuns. This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts. If you accept these eight principles of respect, that will be your ordination.
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Ānanda, if females had not gained the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One, the spiritual life would have lasted long. The true teaching would have remained for a thousand years. But since they have gained the going forth, now the spiritual life will not last long. The true teaching will remain only five hundred years.
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It’s like a field full of rice. Once the disease called ‘white bones’ attacks, it doesn’t last long. In the same way, the spiritual life does not last long in a teaching and training where females gain the going forth. "
AN 8.51
When King Pasenadi was disappointed that he had a daughter instead of a son The Buddha said:
Then the majority of suttas I read are pretty negative against women.“Well, some women are better than men, O ruler of the people. Wise and virtuous, a devoted wife who honors her mother in law. " - SN 3.16
The power of women is anger:
Compared to black snakes:“Bhikkhus, there are these eight powers. What eight? (1) The power of children is weeping; (2) the power of women is anger; (3) the power of thieves is a weapon; (4) the power of kings is sovereignty; (5) the power of fools is to complain; (6) the power of the wise is to deliberate; (7) the power of the learned is reflection; (8) the power of ascetics and brahmins is patience. These are the eight powers.” - AN 8.27
Did I miss any important Theravada suttas?“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a black snake. What five? It’s irritable, hostile, venomous, fork-tongued, and treacherous. These are the five dangers of a black snake.
In the same way there are five drawbacks of a female. What five? She’s irritable, hostile, venomous, fork-tongued, and treacherous. This is a female’s venom: usually she’s very lustful. This is a female’s forked tongue: usually she speaks divisively. This is a female’s treachery: usually she’s an adulteress. These are the five drawbacks of a female.” - AN 5.230