Attitudes to Gender
Sexism is prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination typically against women, on the basis of sex.
It is outlined in the Sikh scriptures that women are to be treated equally with men.
In this teaching from the Guru Granth Sahib it is stated that the world would be nothing without women and therefore they deserve respect. "We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman, we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without woman" (Guru Nanak, Var Asa, pg. 473). This is saying why should we restrict woman to do things when they are mothers of great people and are great people themselves and can make a difference to this world. This had a massive impact on followers actions as people, especially woman, realised what Guru Nanak was saying and many people began following Sikhism.
Another quote by Guru Amar Das, which is written in Guru Granth Sahib on page 788, says 'they are not husband and wife whom merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one spirit in two'. This is saying that marriage is more than just being called husband and wife, but is instead saying that they will have an eternal love for each other and an equal partnership of loyalty, and trust and gender equality. Woman were and still are discriminated against but when Guru Amar Das said this, men have realised that what they have been doing is wrong and that everyone must be treated equally.
In modern Sikhism some people still question whether women are still not being treated properly in society, this comes down to many things, no sweets are shared in a family when a girl is born but this is usually the case for boys. Today the ideal Sikh women is one who listens to her husband or father and is considered trouble if they do not do so.
By Gunveer Kataria
Sexism is prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination typically against women, on the basis of sex.
It is outlined in the Sikh scriptures that women are to be treated equally with men.
In this teaching from the Guru Granth Sahib it is stated that the world would be nothing without women and therefore they deserve respect. "We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman, we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without woman" (Guru Nanak, Var Asa, pg. 473). This is saying why should we restrict woman to do things when they are mothers of great people and are great people themselves and can make a difference to this world. This had a massive impact on followers actions as people, especially woman, realised what Guru Nanak was saying and many people began following Sikhism.
Another quote by Guru Amar Das, which is written in Guru Granth Sahib on page 788, says 'they are not husband and wife whom merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one spirit in two'. This is saying that marriage is more than just being called husband and wife, but is instead saying that they will have an eternal love for each other and an equal partnership of loyalty, and trust and gender equality. Woman were and still are discriminated against but when Guru Amar Das said this, men have realised that what they have been doing is wrong and that everyone must be treated equally.
In modern Sikhism some people still question whether women are still not being treated properly in society, this comes down to many things, no sweets are shared in a family when a girl is born but this is usually the case for boys. Today the ideal Sikh women is one who listens to her husband or father and is considered trouble if they do not do so.
By Gunveer Kataria