Bahá’u’lláh has greatly strengthened the cause of women, and the rights and privileges of women is one of the greatest principles of the Bahá’í Faith. Intrinsic to every instance of social action undertaken by Bahá’ís, regardless of the area of action it strives to address, is a commitment to the goal of ensuring that women and men are allowed to advance shoulder to shoulder in all fields of human endeavour – scientific, political, economic, social, and cultural.
“Rest ye assured! Erelong 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.” – `Abdu’l-Bahá,Paris Talks
“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.” – `Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
Women and Peace
`Abdu’l-Bahá,also frequently linked the advancement of women with the cause of international peace, and met with some of the women who were most active in the peace movements of the day, including such well-known figures as Jane Addams and Sarah J. Farmer.
The Bahá’í Faith also views the equal participation of women in all spheres of activity as a prerequisite to peace. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, wrote that “when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world…war will cease.”
Education of Women and Girls, a Priority
In 1912, only about a third of college students were women, and they were not expected to contribute to society in the same ways as men. `Abdu’l-Bahá,not only advocated that “Daughters and sons must follow the same curriculum of study,” but went a step further:
“…the education of women is of greater importance than the education of men, for they are the mothers of the race, and mothers rear the children. The first teachers of children are the mothers. Therefore, they must be capably trained in order to educate both sons and daughters.” –`Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
“The principle of religion has been revealed by Bahá’u’lláh that woman must be given the privilege of equal education with man and full right to his prerogatives. That is to say, there must be no difference in the education of male and female in order that womankind may develop equal capacity and importance with man in the social and economic equation. Then the world will attain unity and harmony. In past ages humanity has been defective and inefficient because it has been incomplete. War and its ravages have blighted the world; the education of woman will be a mighty step toward its abolition and ending, for she will use her whole influence against war. Woman rears the child and educates the youth to maturity. She will refuse to give her sons for sacrifice upon the field of battle. In truth, she will be the greatest factor in establishing universal peace and international arbitration. Assuredly, woman will abolish warfare among mankind.” –`Abdu’l-Bahá,The Promulgation of Universal Peace