Women's Empowerment
The Coalition encourages the active participation of Sikh women in all aspects of society and advocates upholding gender equality within the Sikh community. However, the Coalition recognizes that Sikhs often fall short of practicing the Guru’s directive of equality, mutual respect, individuality and freedom.
Overview
One Punjabi Sikh woman shares her story of abuse:
The Coalition recognizes:
South Asian Agencies that provide support for victims of Family Violence :
Female Feticide
Female Feticide is the selective abortion of females. Rural as well as urban families practice female Feticide. It is perpetrated by the well-educated as well as the un-educated.
People who continue to practice dowry and believe in the lower ‘value’ of the girl child, are in clear violation of the Sikh faith. Those who believe the girl-child to be burdensome, partake in the heinous practice of feticide which is against all principles of Sikhi.
The Coalition recognizes
Singh, Bhai Vir
Sundri
Published on the web in English
Bhasin, Kamla and Ritu Menon.
Borders and Boundaries
New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press 1998
Gill, Dr. M.K.
The Role and Status of Women in Sikhism.
Delhi: National Book Shop, 1995.
Kaur, Surjit.
"The Place of Women in Sikhism: Unequal Partners?"
The Sikh Review, April, 1996.
Mahmood, Cynthia, and Stacey Brady.
Guru's Gift: An Ethnography Exploring Gender Equality with North American Sikh Women.
California: Mayfield Publishing Company 2000.
Sidhu, G.S.
The Sikh Woman.
Kent, UK: The Sikh Missionary Society, 1977.
Singh, I.J.
Sikhs and Sikhism: A View with a Bias.
Guelph, Ont.: Centennial Foundation, 1998.
Singh, Jatinder.
Islam and Sikhism: a Comparative View on Women
Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur.
The Feminine Principle in the Sikh Vision of the Transcendent.
London: Cambridge University, 1993.
Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur.
The Name of My Beloved.
San Francisco: Harper, 1995.
The following titles are available in Punjabi:
Bhai Vir Singh.
Sundari and Satwant Kaur
Baldev Singh.
Adarshak Singhnia (Daughters of the Khalsa)
Simran Kaur
Prasidh Sikh Bibia (Famous Sikh Women)
[top] Links
General
www.sikhwomen.com
Organizations
Sikh Sisterhood
Amnesty International USA, Women's Human Rights Program
Yuba-Sutter National Sikh Women's Group
Council of Sikh Women (NY)
Take Action
Amnesty International USA, Women's Human Rights Program
Of woman are we born, of woman conceived,
To woman engaged, to woman married.
Woman we befriend, by woman do civilizations continue.
When a woman dies, a woman is sought for.
It is through woman that order is maintained.
Then why call her inferior from whom
all great ones are born?
Woman is born of woman;
None is born but of woman.
First Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Translated by Nikky Guninder Kaur Singh
The Sikh Coalition has made a commitment to safeguard the rights of women in accordance with the fundamental principle of gender equality found in Sikh theology. To woman engaged, to woman married.
Woman we befriend, by woman do civilizations continue.
When a woman dies, a woman is sought for.
It is through woman that order is maintained.
Then why call her inferior from whom
all great ones are born?
Woman is born of woman;
None is born but of woman.
First Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Translated by Nikky Guninder Kaur Singh
The Coalition encourages the active participation of Sikh women in all aspects of society and advocates upholding gender equality within the Sikh community. However, the Coalition recognizes that Sikhs often fall short of practicing the Guru’s directive of equality, mutual respect, individuality and freedom.
Overview
- Coalition Concerns
- Reading List
- Links
One Punjabi Sikh woman shares her story of abuse:
“My husband, his family and I lived in a small town in USA. After marriage, for about two years I was physically assaulted and abused by my husband on many occasions, so much so that I took an overdose of sleeping pills on account of which I was hospitalized. My husband and his family also humiliated me during this time. I was totally dependent on my husband for all legal as well as financial support. I looked upon my husband for all advice and help, I didn’t know any people around. I didn’t move out of the house without my husband, I didn’t drive. I also didn’t know where to turn for legal advice. I trusted him blindly for everything…and was left helpless in face of the emotional and physical abuse” --Simran, USA.
Hundreds of South Asian women--Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Christian-- approach domestic violence agencies and shelters every year. Husbands and/or in-laws have abused these women physically, emotionally, economically. Children are also severely affected by such violence and it can affect them deeply. Often, elderly parents may be the helpless victims of family abuse.
The Coalition recognizes:
- Family Violence is a serious and widespread problem in our community, just as in every other community.
- Family Violence must not be condoned in any circumstance.
- Family Violence is a crime and not just a ‘household problem’.
- Family Violence cuts across boundaries of culture, class, education, income, ethnicity, religious faiths and age.
- Those affected by Family Violence show a lot of strength in taking a stance against such violence.
- There is no excuse for Family Violence, it is wrong in all circumstances.
- Men and Women can combat this societal ill by supporting the victims and by helping victims find help.
- Due to cultural barriers, Family Violence is one of the most under- reported crimes and cultural taboos preventing conversation about such issues need to be lifted.
South Asian Agencies that provide support for victims of Family Violence :
- Aasra California - asraa1@aol.com
- Apna Ghar Chicago , Illinois - info@apnaghar.org
- Asha Washington DC. - ashainc@aol.com
- Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach San Francisco, California - cdabby@apiahf.org
- Asian Pacific Women's Centre Los Angeles, California - e-mail@apwcla.org
- Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence Boston, Massachusetts - asiandv@atask.org
- Asians Against Domestic Abuse Houston, Texas - info@aadainc.org
- AWAKE (Asian Women's Alliance for Kinship and Equality) Tallman, New York - awakeinc@aol.com
- Baitul Salaam Network Georgia - haleem1@aol.com
- Chaya Seattle, Washington - chaya@chayaseattle.org
- Daya Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Texas - manager_daya@yahoo.com
- Humdrad Illinois - (708) 628 9195
- Islamic Center of Long Island, Westbury, New York - kjaymd@yahoo.com
- Jagaran Middlebury, Connecticut - dhumale@juno.com
- Kamilat Fenton, Michigan - staff@kamilat.org
- Khuli Zaban Illinois - khulizaban@hotmail.com
- Kiran Chapel Hill, North Carolina- kiraninc@hotmail.com
- Maitri San Jose, California- maitri@maitri.org
- Manavi New Brunswick, New Jersey - Manavi@worldnet.att.net
- Michigan Asian Indian Family Services Southfield, Michigan - info@maifs.org
- Narika Berkley, California - narika@narika.org
- Raksha Inc. Atlanta, Georgia - raksha@mindspring.org
- Sahara Artesia, California - sahara_2@hotmail.com
- Saheli Austin, Texas - saheli@usa.net
- Sakhi for South Asian women New York, New York - contactus@sakhi.org
- South Asian Coalition Against Violence
- Sawera Portland, Oregon - sawera@sawera.org
- Sneha Inc Hartford, Connecticut - sneha@sneha.org
- South Asian Clinic Somerville, Massachusetts - shefpatel@yahoo.com
- South Asian Network Artesia, California - saninfo@southasiannetwork.org
- Trikone San Jose, California - trikone@trikone.org
Female Feticide
Female Feticide is the selective abortion of females. Rural as well as urban families practice female Feticide. It is perpetrated by the well-educated as well as the un-educated.
- Sex Ratios as Low as 8 Girls for 10 boys, Punjab has one of worst records of female feticide, Jill McGivering, BBC South Asia correspondent
- Shamelessly perpetrated by all classes Nitin Jugran Bahuguna, December 19, 2004
O my Lord, give me thy name as my wedding gift and dowry.
Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Ram Das, Page 78
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. || 4 | Guru Granth Sahib Guru Ram Das, Page 79
Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Ram Das, Page 78
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. || 4 | Guru Granth Sahib Guru Ram Das, Page 79
The Coalition recognizes
- Feticide is antithical to the Sikh faith
- Should be clearly condemned by families and individuals
Singh, Bhai Vir
Sundri
Published on the web in English
Bhasin, Kamla and Ritu Menon.
Borders and Boundaries
New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press 1998
Gill, Dr. M.K.
The Role and Status of Women in Sikhism.
Delhi: National Book Shop, 1995.
Kaur, Surjit.
"The Place of Women in Sikhism: Unequal Partners?"
The Sikh Review, April, 1996.
Mahmood, Cynthia, and Stacey Brady.
Guru's Gift: An Ethnography Exploring Gender Equality with North American Sikh Women.
California: Mayfield Publishing Company 2000.
Sidhu, G.S.
The Sikh Woman.
Kent, UK: The Sikh Missionary Society, 1977.
Singh, I.J.
Sikhs and Sikhism: A View with a Bias.
Guelph, Ont.: Centennial Foundation, 1998.
Singh, Jatinder.
Islam and Sikhism: a Comparative View on Women
Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur.
The Feminine Principle in the Sikh Vision of the Transcendent.
London: Cambridge University, 1993.
Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur.
The Name of My Beloved.
San Francisco: Harper, 1995.
The following titles are available in Punjabi:
Bhai Vir Singh.
Sundari and Satwant Kaur
Baldev Singh.
Adarshak Singhnia (Daughters of the Khalsa)
Simran Kaur
Prasidh Sikh Bibia (Famous Sikh Women)
[top] Links
General
www.sikhwomen.com
Organizations
Sikh Sisterhood
Amnesty International USA, Women's Human Rights Program
Yuba-Sutter National Sikh Women's Group
Council of Sikh Women (NY)
Take Action
Amnesty International USA, Women's Human Rights Program
