Doris Jakobsh - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Doris Jakobsh

Journal of Contemporary Religion, Jan 2, 2022

ABSTRACT Sikhs have had a significant presence on the Internet since the 1990s. For the most part... more ABSTRACT Sikhs have had a significant presence on the Internet since the 1990s. For the most part, early web sites were clearly gendered, highlighting male-focused history, identity, and concerns, with some sites including a ‘women’s section’. Sikh women’s specific sites were few. The scenario has changed considerably with a number of new sites developed by and for women. “Kaur Life”, “Kaurista”, the “Kaur Project”, and the “Sikh Feminist Research Institute” reflect the needs, practices, and concerns of a new generation of engaged, reflective, and activist Sikh women, here identified as “i-Kaurs”. I explore the development of Sikh women’s sites, examining changes in content, presentation, and mission between the earlier and later online milieu. To what extent do Sikh women’s sites offer opportunities to network, to provide safe spaces for women to exchange ideas and commentary? How do these online spaces intersect with offline Sikh religious environments? To what extent do these sites engage and reflect wider women’s concerns?

Encyclopedia of Leadership

The women's movement has challenged the notion of predetermined gender roles as "natural." Gender... more The women's movement has challenged the notion of predetermined gender roles as "natural." Gender roles are instead socially constructed classifications that are inspired and furthered by the overarching influence of patriarchy within society, communities, and families. It is thus imperative that these fundamental, patriarchal classification schemes are challenged and deconstructed. The fundamental structure of Western patriarchal society depends upon an understanding that males are superior, more powerful, and that they represent the "norm," whereas women are understood as inferior, lacking in power and autonomy, and secondary. The power of socialization that underlies this system cannot be ignored. In fact, sexist, patriarchal values are so deeply engrained in society's consciousness that they are largely invisible. The very fabric of social organization has been woven by males, for males, to support males. In many bureaucracies, whether they are governmental or corporate, most of the upper positions are held by men. Women are generally concentrated in the lower, supportive positions necessary to keep this male leadership in power. Thus, the power, prestige, and privileges of those in positions of power, generally males, depend on the subordinate position of women. This ordering of power thus has serious consequences for women's leadership. Numerous strategies have been attempted to overcome these barriers to women's leadership, particularly within the workplace. The goal is fair representation of women within corporations, politics, the professions, religious organizations, and unions. But there are limits to promoting equality within the structures that are maintained by patriarchal values. Through existing male-dominated organizations, men have come to view their perspectives and norms as being representative of wider, gender-neutral human organizations. With this perspective comes an assumption that the structure is asexual. This results in an undervaluing of women's knowledge and experiences. Even when women move into leadership positions, they are conditioned by the perspectives and power structures to maintain the status quo; while gender composition may be changed, the underlying structure of power, knowledge, status, and wealth is not challenged. Simply put, male dominance is the main obstacle to women rising to top positions in corporations and politics. Furthermore, traditional gender roles, still widespread in society, are barriers to women climbing corporate ladders. Current value systems largely support the notion that it is better for the family if the father is employed and the mother takes care of the majority of parental responsibilities. Unsupportive attitudes from family, friends, and co-workers may have negative effects on women's work and their roles in society.

This work studies Sikh history and culture - lauded for its militaristic, hyper-masculine charact... more This work studies Sikh history and culture - lauded for its militaristic, hyper-masculine character by India's colonial rulers - from a feminist perspective, an approach that is unprecedented. Beginning with early Sikh history, the author explores "male"/"female" constructs and demonstrates in her analysis of the Sikh Sabha movement that gender politics (as based on the Victorian notions of gender) were pivotal to this endeavour.

Journal of Contemporary Religion

The Journal of Asian Studies, 2013

This book explains how the Sikh separatist movement for Khalistan developed in the Punjab and why... more This book explains how the Sikh separatist movement for Khalistan developed in the Punjab and why it turned violent. In a style which is narrative, the author shows how internal power blocs within Sikhism shaped an exclusionary Sikh identity over the past 300 years. The ...