RESTRICTING OR LIBERATING
'Is being a practising Sikh female restricting or liberating?' When I first really became interested in Sikhi, I didn't realise that I'd find it so liberating on so many levels. Not just on spiritual levels, but also on worldly ones. We live in a society where it's so difficult for a woman to be genuinely comfortable in her own skin. So many businesses are based solely on exploiting a female's insecurities. We're told exactly what we're supposed to look like, what counts as beautiful, which of our characteristics are acceptable and which ones aren't. Feeling "feminine" isn't actually based on loving being a woman but is based on being slim, hairless and made up. Everything about you can and should be changed or "enhanced". If you choose not to "enhance" yourself, you're deemed to be not taking care of yourself, you're not making an effort, and you aren't presentable. The rules are different just because you're female...
Men aren't expected to "enhance" themselves anywhere near as much as we are. Even the "natural" look isn't actually natural. Honestly, how much of what we do is truly down to personal choice, rather than to societal pressure?
One thing that has always drawn me towards Sikhi is the element of being indifferent to societal pressures and just accepting yourself the way that you are. It's not the reluctant kind of self acceptance where you pretend that you're happy with yourself but it's the state of being genuinely comfortable with yourself. It's the absence of feeling the need to change yourself in order to fit in with the norm. It's about being effortlessly indifferent to everyone else's ideas about you. You're no longer attached to the typical standards of beauty, so you no longer feel inadequate in your own skin. A lifestyle which gently discourages focusing on superficial things like outward appearance, wealth, social status etc. Instead, encourages self acceptance, self love and personal growth has helped me so much. It's refreshing to be amongst women and girls whose main concern is their jeevan (lifestyle), rather than their image and appearance. We all have our moments... Self acceptance is easier said than done... For me personally, Sikhi has genuinely made it a lot easier. If you're standing on the outside, Sikhi might seem restrictive. You don't understand why this bunch of women don't "enhance" themselves. But when you're living that lifestyle, you see that what others perceive as "restrictions," essentially remove your obligation to bend to societal pressures. You're free to accept yourself. It's liberating.
Written by Amrit 'Jamz' Kaur
There are no words that will give justice to the power, stature, importance and sacrifice of women in the Sikh faith. Our mothers, sisters and daughters look absolutely beautiful with our Gurus crown upon their heads. True beauty always shines forth, through one's body and spirit via the love of Naam and baani.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Says, "So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all."
Vaheguroo!
