5ks and Sikh Woman

If a women has excessive facial hair, I dont see why she can't remove it.

A practising Sikh women should not cut her kesh/head hair ever but if her facial hair is due to excessive abnormal hormone production, I cant see why she should not be able to remove it.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/749-5ks-and-sikh-woman.html

It doesnt make her a lesser Sikh.!!

Das believe's that "Rom Rom" is an expression not saying that we therefore should not cut our excessive facial hair (for women that is).

Keeping kesh(for practicing Sikh men & women) and long beard (for men not women!) is a Khalsa identity.

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

i kinda have the same thing going i have a heavy kara so there are less hair on my right wrist... but that is not shaving or cutting of hair so its not beadbi/disrespect
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=749

etinder .. the thing is that there is a word in punjabi kesh with means hair so going to sanskrit to find out the meaning is unnecessary

as for women and shaving of body hair - why do they do it?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=749
-to look attractive
-to be acceptied
-and FINALY TO LOOK ATTRACTIVE

if you look at it from a teenagers point of view ... yes, it becomes "important" to remove body hair so she can be accepted and look "good"
i think this issue of removing body hair is also slowly becoming an issue for guys

the only way we can get rid of this feeling is to set an image in the media of pure sikhs that are like everyone else (cool, the hero, gangster type(thinking of "Wolverine" style mentality, etc) and still be sikhs this will make the youth feel more comfortable being sikhs
if ur wondering where i am getting this from then read on
in almost EVERY film the hero is clean shaven and has almost no hair on the body and the heroine has no body hair
models... do i need to explain?

This is obviously a very sensitive issue, so I'll try and be as careful as I can.

I don't personally think that women's bodies/faces is an example of "modern beauty standards". Whilst body hair for men seems to go in and out of 'fashion' depending on the decade, I think that women without hair on their bodies or faces have always been considered beautiful. It's the reason that men have beards and women don't. Hair on women just isn't attractive, and this is not - in my view - simply a trend.

I happent to agree with you. Keeping hair isn't really something that increases your spirituality. It's simply an image that represents something.

I'm a fond believer in the saying that "pride taken too far is foolishness". And 'pride' should always be an enemy for any Khalsa.

As a new person to the Sikh faith, this is certainly a challenge for me. Since I have found the Sikh faith, I have not shaved. My husband does not really like it, not because of what it looks like, but the result of not shaving. I have a skin problem on my legs and arms, that when new hair grows in, I break out because the hair follicle gets infected. When I shave my arms and legs (and other areas), I do not break out. My dermatologist has mentioned electrolysis because she says it will help. I am growing out my head hair but is still very short since it was basically shaved (had to recover from a bad haircut), I am ok with my head hair growing, as I will never alter it again, but what can I do about my legs and arms. Also, society pressures. I live in Florida in the U.S., where the trendiest (and rudest) people seem to be, also, the summers are so hot that wearing pants while outside makes for a very uncomfortable outing. I can't go swimming because of the viscous looks that people give (tried it already). But, I am trying to keep my faith.... are there any other women who have succeeded in keeping leg and arm hair? How do you cope? Can you still shave if you have not taken Amrit, or is this a requirement for all Sikh’s?

soon2bkaurji,

My advice would be to start from the inside and work your way to the outside, you will eventually get to the point where you really could not care less what people think at the swimming pool.

I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I feel there are way too many physically perfect sikhs who concentrate only on the appearance of a sikh, whilst giving little regard to the spiritual side. I am sure if you focus on the spirit and let it filter out, you will find that helps you with the social side of looking like a woman singh

Just so you know, I have the same problem in reverse. I would like to wear a turban and grow my hair out, but have decided to wait until I feel I am worthy of that honour, in a turban I look like a respectable sikh gentleman, and no one gives me a second glance, without it, I look like a fat bald buffoon with massive hamster cheeks.....and yes small kids point and laugh at me

soon2bkaur ji

In a few weeks I will have no hair. Chemotherapy starts soon. The issue of dastar, on or off, will not be a problem for me. What is under my scalp ... my attitude... becomes my challenge. Maintaining chardi kala and Waheguru sahal will get me through all questions of identity. Identity begins in the heart. Henry Haller ji speaks with the wisdom of years of pondering any and every question that can or will come up. Hold my hand. That is the nature of true sangat...to be ready to embrace every individual dilemma within its fold.

The kakkars tell the world you are a Sikh. You must believe you are a Sikh for any of that to be authentically you. Do you feel yourself a Sikh? You are.

soon2bkaur Ji, perhaps visit a different dermatologist? You current one seems to be preoccupied with treating the symptoms and not finding a cure. It may be that you need to exfoliate your skin regularly to help all the hairs grow out or maybe you have a germ on your skin which is infecting the new follicle as it grows or something. Definately follow it up with another dermatologist.

If you don't want to wear pants, try long skirts. You can get nice light summery skirts which will protect your skin from the sun as well as keeping your leg hairs private.

I'm with Harry Ji, the further along the Sikh path you go, the more you realise you've evolved with hairs like this so why fight it when there is no harm in just leaving it there? It is only man-made society which dictates we should be removing something completely natural.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=749

I've got all my kesh (much to my husband's disgust also!) but my hairs are very fair. It's easy with forward planning -- choosing clothes which don't show off your arm pits and leg hair.