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Sikh Women's Empowerment Conference - Reclaiming
Equality
 From June
14-15, 2003, the Sikh Coalition organized a Sikh Women’s
Empowerment Conference at Columbia University in New York.
The conference marked the first time a Sikh civil rights
organization created a forum to focus on discussing issues
concerning Sikh women.
Over 110 participants, Sikh men and women, gathered for
the conference. Together they explored Guru Sahib’s
vision for women, their importance in Sikh history, challenges
presented by the various cultural stigmas facing women,
and how to rise above these challenges through activism
inspired by eternal Sikh principles.
| “I'd like to thank the
organizers of the Sikh Coalition's Sikh Women's Empowerment
Conference for opening the eyes of this Sikh man and
making so many of us think about how far we have strayed
from the ideals of our religion and what we can do to
change that.”
-- Tarandeep Singh writing in the Sikh Sentinel
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The conference consisted of four main sessions.
- The Guru’s Vision -The Gurus, through practice
and writing, announced a radical notion, that women and
men are equal. Our reality 500 years later still falls
far short of the Gurus' vision. This session explored
the Gurus' vision of gender equality and how it could
empower Sikh women and men living in North America in
the 21st century.
- Sikh Women’s History -A series of four plays brought
Sikh history to life and acknowledged a few of the women
who helped shape Sikh history. Through the use of dialogue,
inner monologue, and reading of Gurbani, these plays helped
connect the teaching of the Sikh Gurus with examples and
historical context.
- Cultural Stigmas and the Sikh Response - The causes
of oppression are embedded in the norms, habits, and symbols
that inform our assumptions in everyday life. This session
focused on the oppression of Sikh women and how the Sikh
faith guides our response to the issues affecting Sikh
woman today.
- Through Activism – This session emphasized the
importance of overcoming cultural impediments to Sikh
women’s empowerment by connecting Sikhism’s
principle of gender equality and the Guru’s vision
of the Sant-Sipahi. Four activists participated on a panel
to speak about their personal commitment to activism,
share what inspires them, and explain what helps them
maintain their commitment
 In
addition to the conference sessions, conference organizers
created the “Kaur Seva Museum,” a collection of
literature, paintings, photographs and poetry about and
by Sikh women. This truly inspiring exhibit, which has been
subsequently displayed for non-Sikh audiences in Seattle,
Washington, helped conference attendees understand the strength,
courage and compassion of Sikh women.
Kaur Seva exhibit (left) contained over
150 exhibits about or by Sikh women.
[More Information and
Conference Materials]
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