New
New
Year 7

Women in Sikhi

I can use the tools of social science to explain Sikh teachings on women and the role of Sikh women historically and today.

New
New
Year 7

Women in Sikhi

I can use the tools of social science to explain Sikh teachings on women and the role of Sikh women historically and today.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. At the time Sikh Gurus lived, women experienced fewer opportunities than men.
  2. The experiences of Guru Nanak's sister, Bibi, helped shape his views on the treatment of women.
  3. The Guru Granth Sahib states that men and women are equal because God made them.
  4. Sikh women are encouraged to study, participate and lead worship equally with men.
  5. Data shows there may still be inequalities between men and women in lived experience.

Keywords

  • Equality - all people having the same rights and opportunities

  • Pangat - the act of eating together in rows, signifying equality and unity

  • Sangat - the community of Sikhs who meet and worship in the gurdwara

  • Survey - a process of collecting, analysing and interpreting data

Common misconception

Sikh women are not as involved as men in religious and community life.

Sikh women have always played an active and important role, historically, as activists and modern day professionals.


To help you plan your year 7 religious education lesson on: Women in Sikhi, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use the British Sikh Reports (available online) to research other important issues to Sikhs living in Britain.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the Sikh symbol called?

Om
Correct answer: Khanda
Crescent

Q2.
Why do many Sikhs wear a turban?

To copy a celebrity.
To stay fashionable.
Correct answer: To cover their uncut hair

Q3.
What is the Sikh holy book called?

Bible
Qu'ran
Correct answer: Guru Granth Sahib

Q4.
How many human Gurus were there in Sikhi?

5
Correct answer: 10
12

Q5.
What do Sikhs believe about God?

Correct answer: There is one God for all.
There are many gods.
God lives only in temples.

Q6.
Why did Guru Gobind Singh create the Khalsa?

Correct answer: To fight injustice.
To build temples.
To teach farming.

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match each key word to its correct definition.

Correct Answer:Equality,all people having the same rights and opportunities.

all people having the same rights and opportunities.

Correct Answer:Sangat,a community of Sikhs who meet and worship in the gurdwara.

a community of Sikhs who meet and worship in the gurdwara.

Correct Answer:Survey,a process of collecting and interpreting data.

a process of collecting and interpreting data.

Q2.
What teaching about women is found in the Guru Granth Sahib?

Women must follow male guidance.
Correct answer: Men and women are created equal by God.
Men are spiritually stronger than women.

Q3.
What does the British Sikh Report help to show?

Correct answer: Social and political views of Sikhs in the UK.
Sikh prayers from history.
How gurdwaras are built.

Q4.
Which Sikh woman fought in a battle and led soldiers in 1705?

Sophia Duleep Kaur Singh
Mandeep Kaur
Correct answer: Mai Bhago

Q5.
Sikh women are not involved in religious life as much as men.

Correct answer: False – Sikh women are active and can lead worship.
True – they cannot lead worship.
False – but only in modern times.

Q6.
Guru Amar Das introduced pangat, allowing men and women to sit together when .

Correct Answer: eating, Eating