Women Equality in the Major World Religions

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Women Equality in the Major World Religions

• Name
• Date

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Contents

• Introduction
• Equality in Hinduism
• Equality in Christianity
• Equality in Islam
• Equality in Buddhism
• Equality in Sikhism
• Conclusion
• Questions

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Introduction

• Our world has been and still is dominated by men
  in all forms including
• Politically
• Socially
• Economically
• Spiritually
• So what have the Major World Religions done to
  establish equality between the men and women?

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Hinduism

• Hindu society is divided into Castes
• Manusmriti is a text describing Hindu Law. It
  prohibits women from listening to Holy Scripture.
• Women are called bad because they cause bad
  thoughts in men.
• A Menstruating women is considered bad
• Women are not allowed to own property and made to
  do demeaning tasks.
• A good wife is expected to serve a bad husband
  like God.
• Today in India, women are still victims of rape
  and violence. They are also banned from taking
  highest spiritual position called Shankara-acharya

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Christianity

• The position of the Church influenced by
• Mosaic Law
• Ideas prevalent few hundred years ago
• In the past Church has been responsible for
• Affirming the inferior status of women
• Depriving women of their legal rights
• The Bible says Eve was created from the Rib of
  Adam. This might imply an inferior status for
  women.
• Recently Church has been dealing with the
  controversial issue of Women Priests.

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Islam

• Initially this religion provided many benefits to
  women including her right to own property.
• However, in Islam a women can not
• Lead the congregation into Prayer (be an Imam)
• Testimony of 2 women Testimony of 1 man
• A man is allowed to have 4 wives but not vice
  versa
• A Menstruating women is considered impure
• It places specific restrictions on Womens
  Clothes (veil)
• Muslim men have sexual rights over Women and any
  slave girls (Hadith No. 61)
• Men are allowed to beat their women lightly but
  not vice versa (Holy Quaran 434)

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Buddhism

• This is a very popular way of life any very
  diverse.
• There are many different types of Buddhism such
  as Zen, Mahayana, Theravada etc.
• Different rules for men and women to take account
  of various differences between the sexes
• 2,500 years ago Equality was not a very big
  issue.
• However Tantric Buddhism provided opportunities
  for women to function more equally.

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Conclusion so far

• Major World religions provide certain degrees of
  freedom to women.
• But they ALL fall short of providing complete
  equality!
• So what does Sikhism say about Equality between
  Men and Women?

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Sikhism

• Sikhism is one of the newest Religions revealed
  to humanity by God.
• It started in 1469 with the birth of Guru Nanak
• Guru Nanak was born into a land where women were
• Burnt on their husbands funeral pyres
• Covered up from head to toe (Islamic Tradition)
• Killed as babies because families wanted sons
• Treated like property (due to the dowry system)
• Lacked legal, spiritual, economic and social
  rights

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What did Guru Nanak do?

• He challenged the men of his time by saying
• It is by women that we are conceived. It is with
  them that we are married. It is women who keep
  the human race going. It is with her that we
  become established within society. Why then call
  her evil who gives birth to Great Kings? All who
  live are born of women, none exists without her.
• Guru Nanak also challenged the practice of
• Sati (burning of the widow)
• Dowry

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Further Introduction of Equality

• Each of the Gurus contributed to the enhancement
  of equality between the sexes.
• During the time of the 3rd Guru, Sikhism had
  established 22 centres around the country.
• 4 of the leaders at these centres were women.
  (Only religion to have equivalent of 4 Bishops in
  15th Century)
• 3rd Guru sent out over 100 missionaries. Just
  under half were women.

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Sikh Law and Rights for Women

• Overview
• Salvation
• Hindrance to Mans Salvation
• Education
• Hereditary Rights
• Gender Equality
• Identity
• Importance of the Womans View
• Opportunity to Pray
• Restrictions on Clothes
• Menstruation
• Marriage and Spousal Relations
• Conclusion

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Salvation

• An important point to consider is whether a
  religion considers women capable of achieving
  Salvation.
• The SGGSJ states
• In all beings is the Lord pervasive, the Lord
  pervades all forms male and female pg. 605
• Hence, it is clear that the Light of God rests
  equally within both sexes.
• Hence women and men are both able to achieve
  salvation by obeying the Guru.

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Hindrance to Mans Salvation

• Many religions believe that women are evil and a
  hindrance to Mans salvation.
• The Guru rejected this. In, Current Thoughts on
  Sikhism, Alice Basarke states, The first Guru
  put woman on a par with manwoman was not a
  hindrance to man, but a partner in serving God
  and seeking salvation.

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Education

• Education is considered very important in
  Sikhism. It is the key to anyones success.
• This is why the 3rd Guru set up many schools.
• 52 of the 100 Missionaries sent by the 3rd Guru
  were Women. In, The Role and Status of Sikh
  Women, Dr Mohinder Kaur writes, The 3rd Guru
  was convinced that no teachings can take root
  until and unless accepted by women folk.
• Hence, Sikhism gives equal access to education to
  both sexes.

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Hereditary Rights

• Hereditary rights have never been an issue in
  Sikhism.
• Sikh women have full rights to contest any
  hereditary claim.
• In, Womens Property Rights A Sikh
  Perspective, Prof Dalip Singh writes, Since all
  children both male and female are equal in all
  respects, the property of the father/mother is
  equally divisible amongst the children.
• Hence, no restrictions on Women on this issue.

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Gender Equality

• Sikhism does consider men and women to be
  different by virtue of their gender.
• However this does not imply superiority of one
  gender over the other.
• Men and Women are equal under the eyes of God and
  should therefore be given equal opportunity.
• No position in Sikhism is reserved solely for men.

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Identity

• In most cultures, when a man marries a women, it
  is customary for the woman to adopt the mans
  surname.
• This is a subtle form of superiority of the male
  over the female, with the latter losing her
  identity.
• However in Sikhism the Guru considers the woman a
  Princess and has given her the surname Kaur. This
  frees the woman from having to take her husbands
  surname after marriage.

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Importance of Womans View

• Some religions regard the women as inferior when
  providing e.g. a testimony in a court.
• However this issue has never been in question in
  Sikhism. The SGGSJ states
• Women and men, all by God are created. All this
  is Gods play. Says Nanak, all thy creation is
  good and Holy. pg. 304
• Gods creation is Holy. There is no suggestion of
  inferiority amongst the role of women in society
  or their intelligence.

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Opportunity to Pray

• Many religions blame women, for the inability of
  a man to remain focused on God.
• However, in Sikhism it is not the woman who is
  blamed for causing sinful thoughts in men, but
  the men who let Lust dominate their mind.
• Any woman can
• Enter a Gurdwara and is accepted in all prayers.
• No area is made exempt
• Women are always an integral part of the
  Congregation

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Restrictions on Clothes (1)

• The only restriction placed on a woman is that
  she must NOT wear a veil.
• The Sikh Code of Conduct states, It is not
  proper for a Sikh woman to wear a veil or keep
  her face hidden by veil or cover Article XVI,s
• Sikhism also makes a general statement about
  clothes applicable to both sexes
• Avoid wearing clothes that fill the mind with
  evil thoughts

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Restrictions on Clothes (2)

• All Sikhs are also commanded to wear the 5 Ks as
  part of their uniform.
• This is unique in history
• First time that women are expected to defend
  themselves and others with their Kirpans.
• They are NOT expected to depend on men for
  protection.

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Menstruation

• A faiths view on Menstruation is a good
  indicator of its tolerance towards women.
• Many religions believe a menstruating women to be
  unclean. But this is not the case in Sikhism.
• The Guru makes it clear that the Menstruation
  cycle is a God given process and that the blood
  of a woman is necessary for creating a human
  being.

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Marriage

• Marriage is considered an integral part of the
  spiritual journey to realise God.
• The SGGSJ states, They are not said to be
  husband and wife who merely sit together. Rather
  they alone are husband and wife who have one soul
  in two bodies.
• In Sikhism, a married couple must live together
  as equals. It is the duty of both husband and
  wife to share the responsibilities of rearing
  Children. All other family duties should also be
  shared equally.

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Spousal Relations

• Any married couple will have their ups and downs.
• Different religions provide different solutions.
  The SGGSJ states on p.143, Should brass, gold or
  iron be broken, the smith fuses it back together
  in the fire. Should the husband and wife have a
  break of relations, then through the children are
  the bonds forged againIn love through sweet
  speech comes reunion

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Conclusion on Women in Sikhism

• Sikhism preaches complete equality between men
  and women in all spheres of life

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Why have all the Gurus been male?

• Question
• If Sikhism preaches Equality, then why have all
  the Gurus been male?
• Answer
• Sometimes you have to go with the system if you
  want to change it.
• What made the Guru a Guru, was because of their
  enlightened soul, which is neither male nor female

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What has been the result of Equality?

• The Sikh community has been blessed with many
  famous Women leaders, military generals, military
  strategists, human rights activists etc.
• Examples include
• Mai Bhago (military general)
• Bibi Sahib Kaur (military strategist)
• Sardarni Dharam Kaur (protector of Akalgarh)
• Bibi Prem kaur (the Sikh Florence Nightingale)
• And the list goes on

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Where are we today?

• Our community has gone back to old customs banned
  by the Gurus like Dowry.
• Our Community Management Systems are all Male
  dominated like Gurdwara Committees and Community
  Centres.
• There are very few Women Ragis, Kathakars,
  Granthis and even fewer women Panj Pyare. But,
  Sikhism guarantees Women equal rights in every
  sphere of life.

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What can we do about it?

• Learn more about True Sikhism
• Practice it in everyday life
• Not make the same mistakes as the older
  generation with regards to Equality

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Questions

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