Where's the sisterhood?

Sat Sri Akal Ji

It appears to me that a point of difference between the online Sikh community and the Christian and Muslim ones is a strong and visible "sisterhood" within them which seeks to be absent from Sikh ones. Go to any Christian or Muslim forum and you'll see the women addressing each other as 'sister' quite often. I don't see that so much in Sikh forums.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/questions-and-answers/35675-wheres-the-sisterhood.html

So recently I went searching for a Sikh women's forum, somewhere I might "feel the sisterly love". And I couldn't find any. I found a Muslim one in no time, but not a place where Sikh women get together, pat each other on the back and talk about the Singhni's POV and experiences.

Perhaps I'm just revealing my egotistical need for warm-fuzzies from my sister Kaurs. Perhaps I'm not doing the right Google searches!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35675

But is there a reason why Kaurs don't seem to be as... I don't know... "mushy" as the women in other religions? Maybe that's why we're Sikhs!

But sometimes it's hard to feel the communal warmth. Maybe it's just my POV.

What are your thoughts?

 
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Ishna, bibi ji

Part of that may be the slice of the Internet you visit. Bhenji, phenji, bibi, and more....it is used always on facebook. We don't use it here at SPN but it would be great if we did.

Another bit of thinking on my part. I think I can think. ..... Sikh women tend to read more than write comments on most forums. That is actually true of our audience statistics when we check. If kaurs are not writing as often, then "sister" would not be found as often either. Not saying this very clearly because I should be in bed. So, why do the bibis not write as often as the men? I think there are 2 reasons:
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35675

Sikh women go to work, have jobs, come home tired, have to tend to families. And this is true even if their mother/mother-in-law is also at home. My sense is very few Sikh women are "stay at home wives and mothers." Not to the same extent as women in other faiths. So, there is not as much disposable time, or energy, left for the Internet.

Sikh women do not like the mean-spirited aspects of forum discussion. It is a waste of their time to discuss the same subjects over and over and get involved in spiteful exchanges. On social networks a kaur can control who posts on her wall, and what can be said. Again, many kaurs post on facebook and enjoy that connection (photos, videos, kirtaan, small talk, participating in fan pages and special interest groups)...they do this in droves.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35675

All depends on how busy a bibi is and how much nastiness she is willing to stand.

Hello Sisters

Gurfateh Bhagat Bhaji!

Ishna ji I am sorry but you comparing Sikhism with giants of world.Both Christianity and Islam are Giants with 1.5 to 2 billion people we are barely 25 million .It is obvious you will found many forums ,message boards where you can like to discuss the topics you like.

What difference does that make? The topic is: Why don't Sikh women use "sister," as often as women in other religions,when communicating on the net? The question is about proportionality as Ishna sees it. Numbers are tangential. Don't anyone chime in here and tell me it is because kaurs are confused. In addition, I presume that Ishna is where she likes to be, or she would not be where she is.

It would be nice to hear from the sisters, instead of hearing from Singhs with "correct" answers. Or is this going to be yet another thread at SPN on women's issues headed for extinction. Glub!

you yourself in your post said that Sikh women has jobs and don't have much time for forums

If that was the point you were trying to make, it did not come across. If Sikh women have jobs, it would not matter how many Sikhs there are. The kaurs would still be working. Tell us again what you are thinking on this subject. Why is it that Sikh women do not use the word "sister?"

Dear Sister Isna
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35675

"Our preoccupation with other people -is at bottom a means of getting away from ourselves."

My Soul has no gender,but I understand your sentiment, although through the accident of birth, I'm not really supposed to answer this post, may I on behalf of all the busy sisters out there say dearest sister, your brothers are like your sisters too!

(Being one of only two brothers in my family ,I always wished I had a sister ,maybe that's why I'm so very close to my cousin sisters)