Short answer: In Jainism, the soul (jiva) is the same in all beings. Spiritually, women and men are equal. Differences you hear about are mainly about monastic rules and sectarian views, not about the soul’s worth.

Details

• Spiritual equality

- Jain doctrine says bondage and liberation depend on karma and effort, not gender. The five great vows, samyag‑darshan/gnan/charitra, and the path of purification apply equally to sadhus and sadhvis.

• Menstruation and touching scriptures/doing puja

- Menstruation is a natural bodily process. Some Jain communities follow traditional maryada that asks women to pause temple entry, puja, and touching murtis or scriptures during those days. This is about ritual purity practices, not about inferiority. Many places today guide women to do bhav‑puja, japa, or listening to pravachan instead, and to resume normal worship after. Practices vary by sect and local tradition.

• Can women become Tirthankars or attain moksha?

- Shwetambar view: Women can attain keval‑jnan and moksha in the present female body. They also hold that the 19th Tirthankar, Mallinath Bhagwan, was female (Malli Kumari). - Digambar view: Liberation in the present era requires total non-possession including nudity; therefore women cannot attain moksha in a female body and would first take a male birth. Accordingly, all Tirthankars are male. This is presented as a discipline-based position, not that women’s souls are lower.

• Place of women in Jain sangh

- Jain history is full of highly revered sadhvis and laywomen observed for great tapas, learning, and leadership. Their spiritual capacity is honored across the tradition.

Essence

• The soul has no gender; hence no spiritual inferiority.
• Menstrual restrictions are customary maryada in many communities; they do not define a woman’s spiritual status.
• On Tirthankarhood and moksha in a female body, Shwetambar and Digambar traditions differ as explained above.