Moving towards gender equality

Can spiritual wisdom challenge our current beliefs andrevolutionise stereotypical gender roles?

Of recent, we have seen huge global momentum striving for gender equality. Movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp, #WomensMarch2018 and more are creating habits and mindsets to progress society to think, act and be gender inclusive.

Through generations, our history and societies have conditioned us to believe there is a distinction and even inferiority between men and women. Teachings of the great 15th century philosopher Guru Nanak challenged this belief system and revolutionised this ideology by stating “without woman, there would be no one at all.”

Every society, ethnic group, and culture has gender role expectations. This kind of stereotyping can be seen in ideals of preconceived personality traits, domestic behaviour roles, occupational roles and physical appearance expectations, occurring at different emotional, mental and physical levels - lending to unhappiness and poor mental health.

Inequality is abuse! Do you feel our habits and mindsets contribute to gender equality? When we hear the saying “treat every women other than your wife or partner as your mother or sister”, what does this mean? How can we as a society move towards abolishing gender discrimination?