`Abdu'l-Bahá on the Equality of Women and Men
A
nd among the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh is the equality of women and men. The world of humanity has two wings -- one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of women becomes equal to the world of men in the acquisition of virtues and perfections, can success and prosperity be attained as they ought to be.1
Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Bahá, women are accounted the same as men,
and God hath created all humankind in His own image, and after His own likeness. That is,
men and women alike are the revealers of His names and attributes, and from the spiritual
viewpoint there is no difference between them. Whosoever draweth nearer to God, that one
is the most favoured, whether man or woman. How many a handmaid, ardent and devoted, hath,
within the sheltering shade of Bahá, proved superior to the men, and surpassed the famous
of the earth.2
In this day man must investigate reality impartially and without prejudice in order to
reach the true knowledge and conclusions. What, then, constitutes the inequality between
man and woman? Both are human. In powers and function each is the complement of the other.
At most it is this: that woman has been denied the opportunities which man has so long
enjoyed, especially the privilege of education....
The truth is that all mankind are the creatures and servants of one God, and in His estimate all are human. Man is a generic term applying to all humanity. The biblical statement "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" does not mean that woman was not created. The image and likeness of God apply to her as well. In Persian and Arabic there are two distinct words translated into English as man: one meaning man and woman collectively, the other distinguishing man as male from woman the female. The first word and its pronoun are generic, collective; the other is restricted to the male. This is the same in Hebrew.
To accept and observe a distinction which God has not intended in creation is ignorance and superstition....
It is my hope that the banner of equality may be raised throughout the
five continents where as yet it is not fully recognized and established. In this
enlightened world of the West woman has advanced an immeasurable degree beyond the women
of the Orient. And let it be known once more that until woman and man recognize and
realize equality, social and political progress here or anywhere will not be possible. For
the world of humanity consists of two parts or members: one is woman; the other is man.
Until these two members are equal in strength, the oneness of humanity cannot be
established, and the happiness and felicity of mankind will not be a reality. God willing,
this is to be so.3
Today questions of the utmost importance are facing humanity, questions peculiar to this
radiant century....
One of these questions concerns the rights of woman and her equality with
man. In past ages it was held that woman and man were not equal -- that is to say, woman
was considered inferior to man, even from the standpoint of her anatomy and creation. She
was considered especially inferior in intelligence, and the idea prevailed universally
that it was not allowable for her to step into the arena of important affairs. In some
countries man went so far as to believe and teach that woman belonged to a sphere lower
than human. But in this century, which is the century of light and the revelation of
mysteries, God is proving to the satisfaction of humanity that all this is ignorance and
error; nay, rather, it is well established that mankind and womankind as parts of
composite humanity are coequal and that no difference in estimate is allowable, for all
are human. The conditions in past centuries were due to woman's lack of opportunity. She
was denied the right and privilege of education and left in her undeveloped state.
Naturally, she could not and did not advance. In reality, God has created all mankind, and
in the estimation of God there is no distinction as to male and female. The one whose
heart is pure is acceptable in His sight, be that one man or woman. God does not inquire,
"Art thou woman or art thou man?" He judges human actions. If these are
acceptable in the threshold of the Glorious One, man and woman will be equally recognized
and rewarded.4
The status of woman in former times was exceedingly deplorable, for it was the belief of
the Orient that it was best for woman to be ignorant. It was considered preferable that
she should not know reading or writing in order that she might not be informed of events
in the world. Woman was considered to be created for rearing children and attending to the
duties of the household. If she pursued educational courses, it was deemed contrary to
chastity; hence women were made prisoners of the household. The houses did not even have
windows opening upon the outside world. Bahá'u'lláh destroyed these ideas and proclaimed
the equality of man and woman. He made woman respected by commanding that all women be
educated, that there be no difference in the education of the two sexes and that man and
woman share the same rights. In the estimation of God there is no distinction of sex. One
whose thought is pure, whose education is superior, whose scientific attainments are
greater, whose deeds of philanthropy excel, be that one man or woman, white or colored, is
entitled to full rights and recognition; there is no differentiation whatsoever....5
Woman's lack of progress and proficiency has been due to her need of equal education and
opportunity. Had she been allowed this equality, there is no doubt she would be the
counterpart of man in ability and capacity. The happiness of mankind will be realized when
women and men coordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet of
the other.6
Women have equal rights with men upon earth; in religion and society they are a very
important element. As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest
possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.7
In the world of humanity ... the female sex is treated as though inferior, and is not
allowed equal rights and privileges. This condition is due not to nature, but to
education. In the Divine Creation there is no such distinction. Neither sex is superior to
the other in the sight of God. Why then should one sex assert the inferiority of the
other, withholding just rights and privileges as though God had given His authority for
such a course of action? If women received the same educational advantages as those of
men, the result would demonstrate the equality of capacity of both for scholarship.
In some respects woman is superior to man. She is more tender-hearted,
more receptive, her intuition is more intense.8
Divine Justice demands that the rights of both sexes should be equally respected since
neither is superior to the other in the eyes of Heaven. Dignity before God depends, not on
sex, but on purity and luminosity of heart. Human virtues belong equally to all!9
In the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh, women are advancing side by side with men. There is
no area or instance where they will lag behind: they have equal rights with men, and will
enter, in the future, into all branches of the administration of society. Such will be
their elevation that, in every area of endeavour, they will occupy the highest levels in
the human world. Rest thou assured. Look not upon their present state. In future, the
world of womankind will shine with lustrous brilliance, for such is the will and purpose
of Bahá'u'lláh. At the time of elections the right to vote is the inalienable right of
women, and the entrance of women into all human departments is an irrefutable and
incontrovertible question. No soul can retard or prevent it. ...His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh
has greatly strengthened the cause of women, and the rights and privileges of women is one
of the greatest principles of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Rest ye assured! Ere long the days shall come
when the men addressing the women, shall say:
'Blessed are ye! Blessed are ye! Verily ye are worthy of every gift. Verily ye deserve to adorn your heads with the crown of everlasting glory, because in sciences and arts, in virtues and perfections ye shall become equal to man, and as regards tenderness of heart and the abundance of mercy and sympathy ye are superior'.10
The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over woman by reason
of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is
already shifting; force is losing its dominance, and mental alertness, intuition, and the
spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy.
Hence the new age will be an age less masculine and more permeated with the feminine
ideals, or, to speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine
elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced.11
...it is incumbent upon the father and mother to train their children both in good conduct and the study of books; study, that is, to the degree required, so that no child, whether girl or boy, will remain illiterate....12
...it is incumbent upon the girls of this glorious era to be fully versed in the various branches of knowledge, in sciences and the arts and all the wonders of this pre-eminent time, that they may then educate their children and train them from their earliest days in the ways of perfection.13
The purpose, in brief, is this: that if woman be fully educated and granted her rights,
she will attain the capacity for wonderful accomplishments and prove herself the equal of
man. She is the coadjutor of man, his complement and helpmeet. Both are human; both are
endowed with potentialities of intelligence and embody the virtues of humanity. In all
human powers and functions they are partners and coequals. At present in spheres of human
activity woman does not manifest her natal prerogatives, owing to lack of education and
opportunity. Without doubt education will establish her equality with men....14
In proclaiming the oneness of mankind He taught that men and women are equal in the sight
of God and that there is no distinction to be made between them. The only difference
between them now is due to lack of education and training. If woman is given equal
opportunity of education, distinction and estimate of inferiority will disappear....
He promulgated the adoption of the same course of education for man and
woman. Daughters and sons must follow the same curriculum of study, thereby promoting
unity of the sexes. When all mankind shall receive the same opportunity of education and
the equality of men and women be realized, the foundations of war will be utterly
destroyed....15
The Lord, peerless is He, hath made woman and man to abide with each other in the closest companionship, and to be even as a single soul. They are two helpmates, two intimate friends, who should be concerned about the welfare of each other.If they live thus, they will pass through this world with perfect contentment, bliss, and peace of heart, and become the object of divine grace and favor in the Kingdom of heaven. But if they do other than this, they will live out their lives in great bitterness, longing at every moment for death, and will be shamefaced in the heavenly realm.
Strive, then, to abide, heart and soul, with each other as two doves in the nest, for this is to be blessed in both worlds.16
According to the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh the family, being a human unit, must be
educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the virtues must be taught the family.
The integrity of the family bond must be constantly considered, and the rights of the
individual members must not be transgressed. The rights of the son, the father, the mother
-- none of them must be transgressed, none of them must be arbitrary. Just as the
son has certain obligations to his father, the father, likewise, has certain obligations
to his son. The mother, the sister and other members of the household have their certain
prerogatives. All these rights and prerogatives must be conserved, yet the unity of the
family must be sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the
comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all.17
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