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{{Short description|Principles of Sikhi and women}}
{{unreliable sources}}
{{Women in society sidebar}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
The principles of Sikhism state that women have the same [[souls]] as men and thus possess an equal right to cultivate their [[spirituality]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Sikhism: What is the role and status of women in Sikh society?|url = http://www.realsikhism.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1248311765&ucat=7|website = www.realsikhism.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150806014920/http://www.realsikhism.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1248311765&ucat=7|access-date = 2015-11-07|archive-date = 2015-08-06}}</ref> with equal chances of achieving salvation.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Howard|first1=Veena|title=Dharma: The Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh Traditions of India|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781786722126}}</ref> '''Women in Sikhism''' participate in all religious, cultural, social, and secular activities including lead religious congregations, take part in the [[Akhand Path]] (the continuous recitation of the Holy Scriptures), perform ''[[Kirtan]]'' (congregational singing of hymns), perform ''[[Gatka]]'' (Sikh martial art) and work as a [[Granthi]]s.<ref name=":0" />

[[Guru Nanak]] proclaimed the equality of men and women, and both he and the gurus that succeeded him encouraged men and women to take a full part in all the activities of Sikh worship and practice.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DkwzFw5oAToC&q=women+in+sikh+religion&pg=PR6 |title=Women in Religion |last1=Holm |first1=Jean |last2=Bowker |first2=John |publisher=Continuum International Publishing |access-date=18 March 2013|isbn=9780826453044 }}</ref> Sikh history also has recorded the role of women, portraying them as equals to men in service, devotion, sacrifice, and bravery.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kaura|first1=Bhupindara|title=Status of women in Sikhism|publisher=Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee|page=56}}</ref>

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Raag Aasaa Mehal 1, Page 473: "So why call her [women] bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ang 473 of Guru Granth Sahib Ji - SikhiToTheMax |url=https://www.sikhitothemax.org/ang?ang=473 |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.sikhitothemax.org |language=en}}</ref> Guru Nanak fought for women's rights and expressed his teachings of equality. He supported women having all rights and privileges a man has.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sikh women - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. |url=https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh_women#:~:text=From%20her,%20kings%20are%20born,privileges%20enjoyed%20by%20a%20man. |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.sikhiwiki.org}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Fresco art from Takht Hazur Sahib depicting Guru Hargobind granting devotee Mai Sulakhani's wish for children by writing the numeral one (੧) but his horse kicked and the Guru wrote the numeral seven (੭) instead.jpg|thumb|Fresco art from [[Hazur Sahib|Takht Hazur Sahib]] depicting Guru Hargobind granting devotee Mai Sulakhani's wish for children by writing the numeral one (੧) but his horse kicked and the Guru wrote the numeral seven (੭) instead]]
[[File:MaiBhago.jpg|thumb|[[Mai Bhago]] (top right) in the battle of [[Muktsar]]; December 1705]]
The Sikh Gurus and various Sikh saints did much to progress women's rights which were considerably downtrodden in the 15th century. To ensure a new equal status for women,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Jagraj|title=A Complete Guide to Sikhism|publisher=Unistar Books|isbn=9788171427543|page=285}}</ref> the [[Gurus]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sikhs.org/women.htm | title=Sikhism Religion of the Sikh People}}</ref> made no distinction between the sexes in matters of initiation, instruction or participation in ''[[Sangat (term)|sangat]]'' (holy fellowship) and ''[[pangat]]'' (eating together).

=== Guru Amar Das ===
According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, [[Guru Amar Das]] disfavoured the use of the veil by women. He assigned women to supervise some communities of disciples and preached against the custom of ''[[Sati (practice)|sati]]''. Guru Amar Das also raised his voice against female infanticide.<ref name="Concept Publishing Company">{{cite book|last1=Gill|first1=Manmohan|title=Punjab Society: Perspectives and Challenges|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=9788180690389|page=44}}</ref>

=== Guru Gobind Singh ===
[[Guru Gobind Singh]] instructed the [[Khalsa]] to not associate with ''kanyapapi'', those who sin towards woman, and the Guru was also strongly against the objectification of woman.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Nikky-Guninder|title=Birth of the Khalsa, The: A Feminist Re-Memory of Sikh Identity|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780791482667|page=57}}</ref> The Guru gave those women who were baptized into the Khalsa, the surname of ''Kaur'', the status of a sovereign princess.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wilcockson|first1=Michael|title=9.4 The Khalsa Religious Studies for Common Entrance 13+ Revision Guide|publisher=Hodder Education|location=London|isbn=9781471850905}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=FAQ|url=https://www.sikhcoalition.org/about-sikhs/faq/|website=Sikh Coalition|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref>

=== Ram Singh Namdhari ===
[[Ram Singh Kuka|Baba Ram Singh]] also did much for woman's rights including opposing infanticide, selling of young girls into servitude, the dowry system, the pardah system,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Panjab Past and Present |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University.|volume=7|page=149}}</ref> and endeavored to achieve higher standards of literacy, and the remarriage of widows.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Clarke|first1=Peter|title=Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements|publisher=Routledge|location=Oxon|isbn=9781134499700|page=425}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Grewal|first1=Gurdial|title=Freedom Struggle of India by Sikhs and Sikhs in India: The Facts World Must Know, Volume 1|publisher=Sant Isher Singh Rarewala Education Trust|page=146}}</ref>

=== Singh Sabha ===
During the Sikh revival movement of [[Singh Sabha]] beginning in the 1870s, the Singh Sabha raised its voice against the purdah system, female infanticide, child marriage, sati, bad conditions of widows, practice of dowry and extravagant expenditure during marriage.<ref name="Concept Publishing Company"/>

==Practices condemned==
[[File:Guru Nanak in Kamarupa, the land ruled by women.png|thumb|Guru Nanak in [[Kamrup region|Kamarupa]], the land ruled by women. From a manuscript of a [[Janamsakhis|Janamsakhi]], c.1755–1770.]]

===Sutak===
Sutak is a belief associated with impurity of the house on account of birth of a child. It is also believed that women are most prone to such impurity. [[Guru Nanak]] condemned such notions of pollution/impurity in no uncertain terms.<ref name=jagraj>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/stream/ACompleteGuideToSikhism/#page/n116 | title=A Complete Guide to Sikhism | publisher=Unistar Books | last=Singh | first=Jagraj | year=2009 | pages=116–117 | isbn=978-8-1714-2754-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRfkTq1ykSIC&pg=PA72 | title=Sikh Women in England: Their Religious and Cultural Beliefs and Social Practices | publisher=Trentham Books | last=Rait | first=S.K. | year=2005 | pages=72 | isbn=9781858563534}}</ref>

{{Quotation|<poem>Should Sutak be believed in, then that such impurity occurs everywhere, Worms are found in cow dung and the wood. No single grain of corn is without life in it. Water is the first source of life, and everyone is dependent on it for remaining alive. How can impurity of Sutak be warded off? It is to be found in every kitchen. Nanak says, pollution is not removed in this way (through rituals). It is washed away by knowledge of God (enlightenment).</poem>|Guru Nanak|Guru Granth Sahib 472 <ref name=jagraj/>}}

===Asceticism===
The concept of [[Sannyasa]] had influenced attitude towards women in India. The inherent attraction of female was considered a temptation something that a [[Sannyasi]] must avoid. The Gurus, however, did not regard women as hurdles for attaining salvation. They rejected the idea of renunciation and regarded family life, if led in a righteous manner, better than the life of an ascetic.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRfkTq1ykSIC&pg=PA49 | title=Sikh Women in England: Their Religious and Cultural Beliefs and Social Practices | publisher=Trentham Books | last=Rait | first=S.K. | year=2005 | pages=49 | isbn=9781858563534}}</ref> Instead of celibacy and renunciation, Guru Nanak recommends ''[[grihastha]]''—the life of a householder.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kapoor|first1=Sukhbir|title=Guru Granth Sahib: An Introductory Study|publisher=Hemkunt Press|page=148}}</ref>

===Menstrual taboo===

Menstruation does not lead to women being considered impure in Sikhism, and women's behavior is not restricted during the time when she is menstruating.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1NaBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 | title=Period & Emotion: Educate Yourself and your Family | publisher=Evincepub Publishing | last=Shahi | first=Mukesh Kumar | year=2018 | pages=13 | isbn=9789388277655}}</ref>

In ''The Feminine Principle'' in the Sikh vision of the transcendent, Nikky Guninder Kaur-Singh writes:

: 'The denigration of the female body "expressed in many cultural and religious taboos surrounding menstruation and child-Birth" is absent in the Sikh worldview. Guru Nanak openly chides those who attribute pollution to women because of menstruation'.<ref>Kaur-Singh, Nikky-Guninder (1993). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=w0Eff2FtiAoC The Feminine Principle in the Sikh Vision of the Transcendent]''. Cambridge University Press {{ISBN|0521432871}}. pp. 4.</ref>

===Polygamy===
[[File:Wedding of Guru Nanak and Sulakhni.jpg|thumb|Wedding ceremony of Sulakhni Chona and [[Guru Nanak]]. From the Unbound set of [[Janamsakhis|Janamsakhi]] paintings, ca.1755–1800.]]
In a culture where monogamy is generally the rule, Sikh [[polygamy]] is exceptionally rare.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rait|first1=S. K.|title=polygamy rare Sikh Women in England: Their Religious and Cultural Beliefs and Social Practices|publisher=Trentham|location=Staffordshire|isbn=9781858563534|page=52}}</ref>

===Female infanticide===
Female infanticide is prohibited, and the ''[[Rehat Maryada|Rahitnama]]s'' (codes of conduct) prohibit Sikhs from having any contact or relationship with those who indulge in this practice.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit|title=History of the Sikh Gurus|publisher=Gur Das Kapur|page=505}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Harbans|first1=Bhatia|last2=Bakshi|first2=Shiri Ram|title=Political Ideology Of The Sikhs|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|isbn=9788176291354|page=33}}</ref>

===Sati (widow burning)===
[[File:Women in Sikh Empire-era Amritsar, 19th century painting.jpg|thumb|Women in [[Sikh Empire]]-era [[Amritsar]], 19th century painting]]
Widow burning, or ''[[Sati (practice)|sati]],'' is expressly forbidden by scripture.

{{Quotation|<poem>Satis are not those that burn themselves on the husband's funeral pyre; satis are they, O Nanak, who die of the pangs of separation ''(from the supreme God)''</poem>|Guru Amar Das|Guru Granth Sahib 787 <ref name=darshan>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Darshan|title=Guru Granth Sahib Among The Scriptures Of The World|publisher=Punjabi University|location=Patiala|isbn=9788173809286|page=196|date=January 2004}}</ref>}}

As a practical step towards discouraging the practice of sati Sikhism permits remarriage of widows.<ref name=darshan />

===Veil===
Sikhism was highly critical of all forms of strict veiling, [[Sikh Gurus]] condemned it and rejected seclusion and veiling of women, which saw decline of veiling among some classes during late medieval period.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Position of Women in Hindu Civilization|last=Singh|first=Sardar Harjeet|year=2009|pages=259}}</ref> This was stressed by [[Bhagat Kabir]].<ref name=jagbir_jhutti>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=37i7uAYe6QEC&pg=PA35 | title=Sikhism Today | publisher=A&C Black | last=Jhutti-Johal | first=Jagbir | year=2011 | pages=35 | isbn=9781847062727}}</ref>

{{Quotation|<poem>Stay, stay, O daughter-in-law - do not cover your face with a veil. In the end, this shall not bring you even half a shell. The one before you used to veil her face; do not follow in her footsteps. The only merit in veiling your face is that for a few days, people will say, "What a noble bride has come". Your veil shall be true only if you skip, dance and sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. Says Kabeer, the soul-bride shall win, only if she passes her life singing the Lord's Praises.</poem>|Bhagat Kabir|Guru Granth Sahib 484 <ref name=jagbir_jhutti />}}

===Dowry===
[[Guru Ram Das]] condemned the ritual of [[dowry]].<ref name=pruthi_dowry>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KxndvJs3wUkC&pg=PA105 | title=Sikhism and Indian Civilization | publisher=Discovery Publishing House | last=Pruthi | first=Raj | year=2004 | pages=105 | isbn=9788171418794}}</ref>

{{Quotation|<poem>Any other dowry, which the self-willed manmukhs offer for show, is only false egotism and a worthless display. O my father, please give me the Name of the Lord God as my wedding gift and dowry.</poem>|Guru Ram Das|Guru Granth Sahib 79 <ref name=pruthi_dowry /> }}

==Equality==
[[File:19th century depiction of a Sikh woman from a Haveli 5.jpg|thumb|Depiction of a Sikh woman from a [[Haveli]], c.1860s]]
According to Sikhism, men and women are two sides of the same human coin. There is a system of interrelationship and interdependence whereby man is born of women, and women are born of man's seed. By these doctrines a man cannot feel secure and complete in his life without a woman, and man's success is proportional to the love and support of the woman who shares her life with him (and vice versa).<ref name="AGGS">{{cite book|title=Aad Guru Granth Sahib|publisher=Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee |location=Amritsar|year=1983}}</ref> The founder of [[Sikhism]], [[Guru Nanak]], reportedly said in 1499 that "[it] is a woman who keeps the race going" and that we should not "consider woman cursed and condemned, [when] from woman are born leaders and kings."<ref name="AGGS"/>

== Status of women ==
===Historical===
[[File:Misl-era Sikhs with dancing and singing women.jpg|thumb|Performance of dancing and singing women at a [[Misl]]-era Sikh court]]
[[File:Gurdwara Bhumman Shah fresco 19.jpg|thumb|Gurdwara Bhumman Shah fresco of a woman leading a hunt]]
There are many examples of women who are considered models of service and sacrifice throughout Sikh history, such as [[Mata Gujri]], [[Mai Bhago]], [[Mata Sundari]], [[Desan Kaur|Mata Desan Kaur]], [[Mata Sahib Kaur|Rani Sahib Kaur]], [[Sada Kaur|Rani Sada Kaur]], [[Datar Kaur|Rani Datar Kaur]] and [[Maharani Jind Kaur]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/great-sikh-women/great-sikh-women|title=Great Sikh Women – Great Sikh Women – Gateway to Sikhism Foundation|work=Gateway to Sikhism Foundation|access-date=2018-09-24|language=en-gb}}</ref>

===Current===
In the present-day democratic [[politics of India]], a fair amount of organizations study and work in order to rid women of many of their disadvantages. They have access to political franchise and new opportunities for advancement have opened up for them. Sikh women have shown enterprise in several fields and are among the most progressive in education and in the professions such as teaching and medicine. Within the Sikh system, they are the equals of men. They can lead congregational services and participate in [[Akhand Path|akhand paths]], uninterrupted readings of scripture to be accomplished within seventy-two hours. They vote with men to elect Sikhs' central religious body, the [[SGPC|Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]], which administers their places of worship (Gurdwara).

Sikhs are obligated to treat women as equals, and gender discrimination in Sikh society has no religious basis. However, gender equality has been difficult to achieve in practice due to heavy social, cultural, and caste-related pressure. It's worth noting that the caste system itself goes against the core principles of Sikhism.

Though equality for women has always been a major attribute of Sikhism and a great number of women have made significant contributions, it is important to note that it is still a work in progress. In the 1990s a group of Sikh women requested to wash the floors or the Darbar Sahib and were denied. Unlike men, women are still not allowed to assist in carrying the paliquin carrying the primary scriptures in its path to and from the Golden Temple. Also, women make up less than 20% of the SGPC members.

While diaspora women take lead in opening many aspects of ritual life for women still female participation in various religious rituals and institutions is very uncommon. Ritual services like ‘chaur seva’ wherein one uses an implement called the chaur to fan the Granth, or Sukh-aasan ritual at Harmandir Sahib ritual where the Guru Granth Sahib is shifted from the sanctum sanctorum to the Akal Takht precincts or Kirtan at golden temple, are mostly male-dominated. So also profession of Granthis to Gurudwara management are mostly male dominated fields. Part of the problem while religion officially does not hold menstruating women to be impure still patriarchy in Sikh society holds the same as taboo.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last1=Apr 14|first1=Ketaki Desai {{!}} TNN {{!}}|last2=2020|last3=Ist|first3=17:10|title=How Sikh women in diaspora communities are fighting for their rights - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/how-sikh-women-in-diaspora-communities-are-fighting-for-their-rights/articleshow/75141280.cms|access-date=2020-12-09|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

====Kaur Project====
Kaur Project is a project that seeks to actively create spaces for Sikh female youth to learn and lead the Hukumnama, Ardaas, Sahajpaath, Akandpaath and Parshaad seva.<ref name=":1" />

==Notable women in Sikhism==
*[[Mata Kaulan]], disciple of [[Guru Hargobind]]
*[[Mata Sahib Kaur]], wife of [[Guru Gobind Singh]] and leader of the Khalsa for 40 years
*[[Susheel Kaur|Mata Susheel Kaur]], wife of [[Banda Singh Bahadur]] who fought alongside him
*[[Sada Kaur]], chief of the [[Kanhaiya Misl]] from 1789 to 1821
*[[Maharani Datar Kaur]], [[queen consort|consort]] of [[Maharaja Ranjeet Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] and mother of [[Kharak Singh|Maharaja Kharak Singh]] she served as a commander during the [[Siege of Multan (1818)|Battle of Multan (1818)]]
*[[Chand Kaur|Maharani Chand Kaur]], ruler of [[Sikh Empire]]
*[[Rani Jindan]], wife of [[Ranjit Singh]]
*[[Sophia Duleep Singh|Princess Sophia Duleep Singh]], prominent suffragette of womans civil rights movemenent in the United Kingdom
*[[Mata Khivi]], notable for her contributions to the establishment of ''[[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]]''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cantlon|first1=Marie|last2=Ruether|first2=Rosemary|last3=Keller|first3=Rosemary|title=Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America: Native American creation stories|publisher=Indiana University Press|location=Indiana|isbn=9780253346872|page=695}}</ref>
*[[Mata Tripta]], mother of Guru Nanak
*[[Bebe Nanaki]], elder sister of Guru Nanak<ref>[http://www.sikhwomen.com/equality/social/history/index.htm#Shaping History]</ref>
*[[Mai Bhago]], prominent Sikh warrior

==See also==

* [[Women in the Guru Granth Sahib]]
* [[Sikh feminism]]
* [[Women in India]]
* [[Women's rights]]
* [[Legal rights of women in history]]
* [[Kaur]], the name bestowed upon Sikh girls and women by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699

==References==
{{reflist}}
* Guru Granth Sahib, p 73.
* Guru Granth Sahib, p 788.

==External links==
* [http://www.sikhwomen.com/ Sikh women]
* [http://www.sikhwomen.com/Guru_Quotes/women.htm Guru Quotes on women]
* [http://www.sikhs.org/women.htm www.sikhs.org]
* [http://www.sikhwomen.com/equality/social/history/index.htm#Shaping Important women in the Sikh History]

{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Sikhism and women| ]]

Women in Sikhism - Revision history

AnnisMatthews: Contributed a new addition to the platform.