International women’s day will be observed on March 10 this ‘year. This is a day when women, hopefully, all mankind will reflect on the status of women, ‘where we have come from, where we stand and indeed how far we have yet to go. Sikhs will give it very little thought for the Sikh religion States very clearly those women are equal. Sikhs will bask in the truth of those words and dismiss the whole issue as irrelevant to them, after all the community has many problems that need to be ad dressed, problems of far greater magnitude than the equality of women. It is a real shame that this very modem aspect of Sikhism is not taken seriously and practiced in Sikh families. In ignoring women, Sikhs dismiss 50% of their human resources in fighting racism, human rights as well as social and political equality for themselves and their children, How many of our women hold positions of authority in the Akal ‘Takhat or the SGPC? When Guru Amar Das trained 146 persons in the early 1500’sto go out a teachers and missionaries, to teach the name of God and instill the concept of equality, 52 were women, today in our gurdwaras, are there any women presidents? How many women in our community are asked to be official spokesperson to the media? How many Women are asked to work on pub Tic relations for the Sikhs?” When the subject of women’s issues was brought up in a Sikh home recently, the man of the house stated that he was willing to discuss women’s issues any time. Immediately the conversation turned to meal preparation, washing dishes and the difficulty of getting proper child care services. Surely, in a household where both partners are working, these should be shared responsibilities, Yet it is not uncommon for a woman to do all of this, even in cases where she is working and he is sitting at home unemployed. Why do men make more money than women, often for the same work? Why are men more likely to get a better job? Men generally Speaking are better educated than women. Really why that is so readily accepted? If Sikh women are equal, why do they not have equal opportunities in education? Why is there not equal opportunity in the job market? Why are some professions still held for men only?

The other issue that must be faced by the Sikh community is the incidence of family violence. This is & Very sensitive area, but HO progress can be made unless we are willing to bring it out in the open and discuss it. Statistics on the Sikh community’s physical abuse of its women is not better than the national average. This is a truth that is hard Xo! Swallow, but it is the truth, anyone working in the field will back up that statement. The question that must be asked is why? Why does a Sikh male who pro fesses to believe that his Gurus instructed him that women are equal, beat his wife? This certainly is not Sikh culture; Another difficult subject is the abortion of female babies. New technology enables us to know the gender of the unborn child Sikhs who use this knowledge for selective abortions are sinning against the teaching of their religion. This genocide of the Sikh religion from within must be stopped. If this is a question of giving of a dowry, it must be remembered that the dowry is the most demeaning of all insults heaped on women; It assumes that the woman is so worthless, her father must pay some other male to take her of his hands. He is not selling her; he is paying someone to take her. We must remember not to confuse Sikh culture with Indian culture. When the Gurus declared women to be equal, they were initiating social changes that went against the customs and mores of the day, They Were creating a just society, far better than the one that exited then. By not respecting women, Sikhs will undermine the very existence of Sikhism, even more so than the government “of India or self-acclaimed scholars like Spellman, for who looks after the children? Who teaches the next generation? If Sikhs effectively chose not to have female children, who will their sons marry when they are grown? A woman who is not a Sikh will not likely teach her children Sikhism as effectively as a Sikh mother would. How will Sikhism survive? Perhaps Sikhs who around proclaiming that they are not Hindus should stop to reflect on what makes them different. Sikhism started 500 years ago with the premise of equality of all mankind regardless of gender. Guru Amar Das did much to bring up the status of women. Is it not time, after 500 years to start practicing what we profess to believe. After all a religion is judged by the way people practice it, not by the size of its gurdsvara, or the empty words of rhetoric. If we Want respect, we must practice what we preach.

Sikhs believe in truth. The truth of the matter is that in spite of 5OO years head start, Sikh women are no better off than their sisters in the community at large, We can initiate change by making sure that our daughters are well educated, have good self-eastern and are allowed to be assertive and competitive in all respects.

Lest there be anyone out there that thinks the West” is far ahead of us, look at these statistics, which apply to Canada

In 1880, Dr.Emily Stowe became the first female doctor to practice medicine in Canada. In 1898, Kit Coleman became the first female journalist in 1899, Clara Brett Martin became Canada’s first female law year. In 1915, Elizabeth Smellier became the first woman to become a Colonel in the Canadian armyJan.28, 1916 Nellie McClung won the franchise for women in Manitoba.

In 1918, Mary Ellen Smith became the first woman ever elected to Provincial Legislature. (B.C.)

The Persons Case” On Oct, 18, 1929 women in Canada achieved “persons” status, this victory was won by five women who waged a lengthy legal and political battle to have women considered as persons under the British North America Act.

In the 1930″s, Carnie Wilson was appointed to the Senate.

In 1936 Lydia Grouchy became the first ordained woman minis ter in the United Church of Canada…Guru Amar Das or drained 52 women in the early 1500’s, Women did not have full Federal franchise till 1945, (With the exception of men and women from Asia who were not allowed to vote until 1949, when Louis St. Laurent wanted to impress visiting P.M. Nehru of India with our liberalism.)

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