Women in Sikhism Women in Islam

Wow, this is from way back. Good to see I've updated my avatar...


I totally agree with Jasleen ji and Ambarsaria ji.

I agree with you, Caramel ji, in theory regarding freedom of choice, but it gets fuzzy when that freedom of choice impacts on others, which is where we need to be considerate of others and think that "my mini-skirt may offend others" and choose not to wear it.

I always wear salwar kameez to Gurdwara Sahib and feel very comfortable in it. I don't feel right in any other clothes there. I don't get to wear my salwar kameez anywhere else -- my family don't want to be seen with me with it on. At the same time I feel Western pressure on how I should dress. I want modesty and comfort.. I'm expected to wear tight clothes and low-cut tops. It's annoying.

I agree with Caramel's statement about the two extremes.

I also envy the Indian ladies, because the colour of their skin makes their colourful salwar kameez outfits look so beautiful. Me, the pasty whitey, looks like a clown! Hehehehe

The problem comes about when we are forced to wear something we don't want to. I have been in Darbar Sahibs in jeans and long skirts and no-one has ever said anything aside from the incident I spoke about in 2006. Looking back, I think she was trying to accommodate me and include me more than judge me and I should have embraced her kindness when I had the chance instead of getting all defensive and insecure.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/islam/14091-women-in-sikhism-women-in-islam.html

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14091
And I do get a lot of compliments when I wear it! The Indian (not Sikh that I could tell) at the petrol station one morning on my way to Gurdwara commented on it too. *blush*

I appreciate the fact that salwar kameez and bright colours adds to the atmosphere in the Gurdwara, just like seeing sardars with their tubans on!

Ishna

 
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I think it's purely up to the individuals themselves as to what they wish to wear.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14091

I personally LOVE wearing the salwar kameez- the main reason being that I find it extremellllyyy uncomfortable to be sitting in cross-legged for hours at a time!

If a Westerner wishes to wear a salwar kameez, then that's even more awesome! The women look absolutely beautiful in those bright colours. Plus, it's not always that a woman can pull off a hot pink coloured outfit
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14091

I am normally quite open minded but when it comes to mini skirts in Gurdwara, I am going to say a big NO NO. If said person in mini skirt is sitting in front of me I really do not want to be exposed to the details of their behind and underwear when matha teking exactly because I am not obsessed with the human body!! Sorry to be blunt but that's the way it is! Long skirts, saris and lenga's also have the same practical problems but not the decency problems.

There is a fine line between personal choice and respect for others as Ishna ji puts it well. If we all were governed by personal choice only, society would soon degenerate. Everyone has different boundaries. The person in the mini skirt has made a choice to go to Gurdwara so they have no excuse not to respect the etiquette there. I don't go to Vatican city and demand to be allowed in with bare shoulders, I do not go to my Chinese friends house and refuse to take off my shoes as I should be allowed to choose etc. People don't seem to like to think of the effect of their actions. Modern society has become all about me!

Put into a wider context the balance between personal choice/freedom and the respect for the population is played out constantly around us - in discussions over the media, the laws, security measures etc.

Apologies for the digression. Trying to relate back to the thread starter, one of the choices Muslim and Sikh women have is to cover hair. In Sikhi, the reason for wearing a dastar has been discussed and include looking after kesh, identity and equality with men. If women have other reasons please discuss. Women in Islam also cover their head with a hijab. The quoted reason for this is modesty. I would be interested in hearing from a Muslim woman's perspective why they choose to wear a hijab (or even burqa)?

I once asked a Muslim girl why she chose to wear the hijab, and she said it is because God sees women as 'diamonds' and tries to, through the hijab, protect them from indecent thoughts from men. And that made me think. Why should a woman who is not, in any way, trying to create such thoughts, do something about it? Is it not rather the man who has these thoughts who should change? Are most women who go bare-headed trying to purposely create such thoughts in the minds of men? Is it not the duty of these men to get rid of such thoughts, through.... for example Naam Simran? And if you're not religious, there are other measures one can seek to control one's thoughts. Controlling indescent thoughts is a moral duty that applies to every human being, religious or not. "Blaming your faults on your nature does not change the nature of your faults.”

Charan ji good points.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14091

I do believe however that one needs to be very honest about classifying thoughts.

Let me sight an example.

Example: We were quite young under 10. The beggars use to pass by our house and the neighbourhood. These will be females and males. I remember one day a lady beggar came by. She had scanty and tattered clothes. One of the kids seeing nakedness, went to mom and said, "Mom tell her to cover herself or I am going to touch her". It would be and was a funny incident in a way.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14091

At what point an action or thought becomes indecent?

The important thing is to not create taboos about boys liking girls, boys wanting to meet girls, etc., as the more taboo it is the more a person sees the novelty of the same.

Just some thoughts to ponder.

Sat Sri Akal

Thank you ji

Maybe you have another way of looking at this than I do, but I honestly don't or would ever find this "funny".

Couldn't agree more. It is only a big deal if you make it a big deal.