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Summary of Question:	Girls Vs Guys In Sikhi
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 2/23/2004 4:30 PM MST

Dear Sikh Net

My name is Ramandeep and I am 14 years old and in Grade 9.
I have recently have been getting ready to do a project on the differences about the girls and boys in the sikh religion for my Punjabi school classes.Why didn't anyone stop things that would say that the women weren't equal as the men. I am very opposed to these kind of stituations. If it wasn't for the women no one would ever be born so why have lohri for boys but not for girls. Why didbn't anyone stop doing Lohri as the gurus said everyone is equal. The women are as equal as the men. Women should stand up for their rights.

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Dear Ramandeep,
Sat Siri Akaal. If you study the history of the Sikh Gurus, you will see that each of them did something special to remind Sikhs that women are equal to men in Guru's eyes. The problem is that many Sikh communities have NOT followed Guru's teachings. Part of that is because the larger Indian culture places women in second-class status. But frankly, that is no excuse for Sikhs to ignore the Gurus' teachings.

You are right. There should be lohri for both girls and boys, or no lohri for any child! One of the shabds in Asa Di Vaar by Guru Nanak says that women deserve respect because from them kings and saints are born! Women SHOULD stand up for their rights. If you search this Youth Forum, you will see other posts on this issue. Perhaps use keywords girls, women, and equal. I have answered several on this topic so you can also use DKK to search along with the other words.

I will tell you something. Set an example. Be an example of a girl/woman who DOES stand up for her rights as a Sikh princess. Find ways to educate your family and Sikh sisters and brothers that in guru's eyes we are the same as men. Show by your actions that you are willing to do this, sakheeji. Guru ang sang,
-DKK