Topic: The Equality of the Sexes
Page 1 This newsletter is dedicated to all seekers after the Eternal
Truth. In this Day the Hand of divine grace hath removed all
distinctions. The servants of God and His handmaidens are regarded on the same
plane. Blessed is the servant who hath attained unto that which God hath
decreed, and likewise the leaf moving in accordance with the breezes of His
will. This favour is great and this station lofty. His bounties and
bestowals are ever present and manifest. Who is able to offer befitting
gratitude for His successive bestowals and continuous favours?1 --Bahá'u'lláh But in the sight of God sex makes no difference. He or she
is greatest who is nearest to God.2
The above quotes from Bahá'u'lláh and
'Abdu'l-Bahá, the appointed Interpreter of His Writings, clearly
demonstrates one of the basic principles of the Bahá'í Faith: the
equality of men and women. It is the soul and its nearness to God that is of
importance, not the outer form, male or female. The following passage from
'Abdu'l-Bahá, again emphasizes this point:
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!3
What of the importance of education? When half of the population is
denied equal rights in education and in attaining to their full potential, the
world is then deprived of half of its potential for progress and everyone
suffers thereby. 'Abdu'l-Bahá also sheds some light upon this question
as He stresses the importance of educating women as well as men in the
following two passages:
Now in the two lower kingdoms of nature we have seen that there
is no question of the superiority of one sex over the other. In the world
of humanity we find a great difference; 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.4 The Seeker's Passage, Vol. II, Number 1, Page 2
This is the age of woman. She should receive the same education
as her brother and enjoy the same privilege; for all souls are equal
before God. Sex, in its relation to the exigencies of the physical plane,
has no connection with the Spirit. In this age of spiritual awakening,
the world has entered upon the path of progress into the arena of development, where the power of the spirit surpasses that of the
body. Soon the spirit will have dominion over the world of
humanity.5
Sexism, like racism, is a divisive and disunifying influence. If you
release yourself from its snare, then you can begin to benefit from the great
diversity that this world has to offer and make this world a better place by
allowing all the souls occupying this world to fully contribute their
talents, skills and abilities, since it will take everyone working
together in unity to make this world the best place it can be.
For your consideration, I include this guidance from the Universal
House of Justice on this very important subject of the equality of the sexes
and its importance to the world:
. . . in light of the principle of the equality of the sexes which is
set forth in the Bahá'í Teachings. This principle is far more
than the enunciation of admirable ideas; it has profound implications in all
aspects of human relations and must be an integral element of
Bahá'í domestic and community life. The application of this principle gives rise to changes
in habits and practices which have prevailed for many centuries. An example of this
is found in the response provided on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a question about
whether the traditional practice whereby the man proposes marriage to the woman is
altered by the Bahá'í Teachings to permit the woman to issue a marriage
proposal to the man; the response is, "The Guardian wishes to state that there is
absolute equality between the two, and that no distinction or preference
is permitted. ..." With the passage of time, during which
Bahá'í men and women endeavor to apply more fully the principle of the equality of
the sexes, will come a deeper understanding of the far-reaching
ramifications of this vital principle. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá has stated, "Until the
reality of equality between man and woman is fully established and attained,
the highest social development of mankind is not
possible."6
Is there any doubt that this equality will become a reality?
'Abdu'l-Bahá answers this question in the following passage:
. . . the entrance of women into all human departments is an
irrefutable and incontrovertible question. No soul can retard or prevent
it.7
Finally, to close this issue is one final passage from
'Abdu'l-Bahá as He compares humanity to a bird, whose wings are composed
of the two sexes. This amply indicates the importance of enabling both sexes
to attain unto their full development and strength:
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.8 The Seeker's Passage, Vol. II, Number 1, Page
3
1 From a Tablet - translated from the Persian and Arabic, quoted in
Women, Jan. 1986, compiled by the Research Department of the Universal
House of Justice, p. 4. 2 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, p.
105. 3 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 162. 4 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 161. 5 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, p.
81. 6 The Universal House of Justice, from a Message dated January 24,
1993, reprinted in The American Bahá'í, November 23, 1993, p.
10. 7 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, pp. 182-183. 8 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 302.
