Our Journeys
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On October 1st, 2011, SAFAR – The Sikh Feminist Research Institute in partnership with The Centre for Women’s Studies in Education (CWSE) will be hosting a one-day conference entitled Our Journeys Conference 2011 at The Centre for Women’s Studies in Education (CWSE), Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Although academic in scope and orientation, Our Journeys Conference 2011 is deliberately organized to be accessible to a diverse audience and range of interests. The conference will explore the topic of Sikh journeys from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. It is intended to provide a space for the articulation of Sikh feminist visions; intellectual and cultural inquiries; critical reflections on Sikhi and gender; and various modes of Sikh feminist thought, in Punjab, India and in the Diaspora. Keynote speaker
Thank you for considering participation in the Our Journeys Conference, we look forward to seeing you in the fall! About Sikh Feminst Review:
Many feminist philosophies focus on returning value to women’s voices, which are often missing in mainstream culture. While Sikhi supports an egalitarian philosophy, it is still riddled with patriarchal, and male dominated interpretations where men, and their voices are valued, while women’s are devalued, or simply missing. Hence, it is essential that a publication dedicated to Sikh feminist praxis be established and supported. A special issue of the journal will be devoted to the conference proceedings from the presentation papers at the Our Journeys Conference, being held by SAFAR in Toronto, on October, 1st, 2011. This public record of Sikh feminist research will serve as one of the first accessible domains to privilege Sikh feminist scholarship. Subsequent Sikh Feminist Review issues will continue to highlight current and emerging academic work by Sikh feminist scholars and theologians. |
  The Plea With the drive to swish through the fast lane to capture my dreams on the way help my people re-guide the youth through peaceful means I want you to join me, hand in hand walking in the direction of revolution Rather than, chewing me up, spitting me out onto negative attributions My community, back lashing at fellow members of itself: Look at her clothes, at the way she does her hair and acts as if she’s got flare Spare me from all this I have enough odds against this gender, race and name Refrain from judging me by the size of my Kara or the length of my hair because it would not make me more humble, if it were a foot longer Nor does it make me a disgrace because I chose to cut it with a blade Or rather It does not make me less beautiful if I choose to tie a braid Nor give me more worth if I have more layers, highlights, or shades I want to learn and make mistakes As I was born, as human, to do Do you see wires, buttons or metal on me? I wasn’t born a programmed robotic machine, you see: BORN with a mindset that offers me the choice between yes and no So to learn the difference of what’s right, wrong and in between Because If I didn’t develop the ability to do so How would I learn to be a sceptic and escape the boundaries of naivety? We are fighting a battle that we say is with them But the worst battle we fight is within this minority pen We need to stand as one Rather than deceiving each other to make that next home run Because there is great power in team work And loneliness in singular But if we can be family than I promise it will set us free |
Scope of the Conference
Authors of abstracts accepted for oral presentations are expected to submit manuscripts of their completed papers by October 1st, 2011 for publication in a special issue of the peer-reviewed, academic on-line journal: Sikh Feminist Review. These manuscripts shall undergo a double blind peer review process (details can be found at 
Sikh Feminist Review aims to explore and challenge the boundaries of knowledge concerning Sikhi and gender. With an interdisciplinary approach, Sikh Feminist Review intends to examine gendered relations inherent within modalities of Sikhi, as well as Sikh philosophy regarding social life, gender relations, sexualities, racialized and gendered practices, institutions, cultural productions, theoretical concepts and frameworks, and understanding the application of Sikh philosophy rooted in the past, present and possible insights regarding the future of Sikh thought.