There is an interesting story in Global Sisters about Kochurani Abraham.  This is the opening sentence:  Kochurani Abraham, a feminist theologian, left a congregation of women religious to lead an independent religious life in her home state of Kerala, southern India.

The whole article is thought provoking.  Here is what she said about a women's diaconate:  "Permanent diaconate is basically a ministry of service. It is a compliant ministry of service, where obedience is its hallmark. Our patriarchal system views service as essentially a woman's duty. As long as the current gender norms govern the church, female diaconate, if it ever happens, will only uphold a gendered ecclesiology in theology and praxis. What is needed is not the incorporation of women into the lowest strata of the hierarchy, but the transformation of the whole church into diakonia [service]."  

She also spoke about the way religious life is evolving. 

See comment 2