‘Are you sure you are a female?’ Australia’s first turban-wearing Sikh woman in the Australian Defence Force, Amritpal Kaur, says she has repeatedly been asked about her gender because she wears a turban. A national-level athlete and the first initiated Sikh woman to qualify as a national-level athletics referee in Australia, Kaur says greater awareness is needed about turban-wearing Sikh women.
Amritpal Kaur, 35, is a mother, an Australian Defence Force officer, a national-level athlete and Australia’s first Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh woman to qualify as a national-level athletics referee. She also runs programs promoting health and fitness among Punjabi women.
Speaking to SBS Punjabi, she said, "I am still asked if I am a man or a woman because people still do not know that even Sikh women can wear turbans."
"It was tough to become the first, but I am happy that I will not be the 'only' Sikh woman and many turban-wearing Sikh women are representing themselves in the fields of athletics."
She said her faith has remained an important part of her identity throughout her career.
"I always wanted to do something different but never wanted to leave my identity for it. My faith has always kept me going despite the setbacks."
Kaur has been nominated for the Australian Sikh Woman of the Year award for the Australian Sikh Excellence Awards 2026.
Listen to the full conversation with her here:
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