<div>Hi, I'd like to quickly introduce myself. I'm an 18 year old Sikh girl that has lived and been brought up a religious family. We've always believed in the name of God and over the years have taken steps that have, in the words of my father 'brought us closer to God.'(we have the Guru Granth Sahib in our house and we do paht everyday,etc.) Now I'd like to establish couple of facts about myself. I do believe in God and I do enjoy practicing certain parts of Sikhism, kirtan and reading gurbani on my own. However, there is one requirement of Sikhs I do not agree with and it's the fact you must keep your hair to be considered a Sikh. Now forgive me if I've dismissively said the statement incorrectly, but that's the way my dad expresses his feelings. I've always hated my hair. Now I'd also like to make it clear that the reason I hate my hair is not because of society. I couldn't care less what people think about my beliefs. Beliefs are what a person chooses to follow and believe by and not constructed to please others. So to reiterate, I am not interested in cutting my hair for others but myself. I hate how hard and annoying it is to take care of my hair. I'd like to wake up one day and not care or worry about brushing up my hair. And as young person, of course I'm shallow enough to worry about my aesthetic appearance. But there is no shame in that. Who doesn't ever want to look or feel good about their body? I want to love myself inside and out completely and wholly. However, I find it difficult with the views of my family.
I'll begin with the family member easiest to explain about: my mom. She used to cut her hair but stopped because she felt awkward cutting her hair and being married to a man who wears a turban. I know if my dad agrees and allows me to cut my hair, which is probably the most far-fetched idea in this world, she would be okay with it. She's not so much the issue. My dad is a zealous Sikh. Not that it's a bad thing; in fact I admire people who stand their grounds on what they believe in. But not giving me the option and expecting me to follow what he says without questions is hard for me. I believe that in order to have a full appreciation of anything, a healthy conversation is needed. But my dad is a very stubborn and proud man. I love him and he cares for me and my entire family. But there have always been two things I never liked about him: his anger and his method of teaching us about Sikhism. Just recently, he expressed how he expects me and brother to get baptized, for lack of a better word, by a temple or else one day he will leave us. Now how should I take that? I am already stressed about many things but his expectations are added to the list. I wish to continue believing in the Sikh religion just with shorter hair. And doesn't what you value inside count and not the outer appearance? I just wish I had the option. Moreover, the hypocrisy of it all...my dad doesn't let me cut my hair (which by the way I've never expressed it out loud to him because I'm scared of what he will say or do) but he has allowed me to shave/wax. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the hair that is being referred to is of the whole body I assume. (And again correct me if I'm wrong) I have read many people also state how the Guru Granth Sahib doesn't even mention keeping one
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I'll begin with the family member easiest to explain about: my mom. She used to cut her hair but stopped because she felt awkward cutting her hair and being married to a man who wears a turban. I know if my dad agrees and allows me to cut my hair, which is probably the most far-fetched idea in this world, she would be okay with it. She's not so much the issue. My dad is a zealous Sikh. Not that it's a bad thing; in fact I admire people who stand their grounds on what they believe in. But not giving me the option and expecting me to follow what he says without questions is hard for me. I believe that in order to have a full appreciation of anything, a healthy conversation is needed. But my dad is a very stubborn and proud man. I love him and he cares for me and my entire family. But there have always been two things I never liked about him: his anger and his method of teaching us about Sikhism. Just recently, he expressed how he expects me and brother to get baptized, for lack of a better word, by a temple or else one day he will leave us. Now how should I take that? I am already stressed about many things but his expectations are added to the list. I wish to continue believing in the Sikh religion just with shorter hair. And doesn't what you value inside count and not the outer appearance? I just wish I had the option. Moreover, the hypocrisy of it all...my dad doesn't let me cut my hair (which by the way I've never expressed it out loud to him because I'm scared of what he will say or do) but he has allowed me to shave/wax. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the hair that is being referred to is of the whole body I assume. (And again correct me if I'm wrong) I have read many people also state how the Guru Granth Sahib doesn't even mention keeping one
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