Guest Author - Sandy Mullins
One of Baha’u’llah’s teachings is about the Equality of women and men. He tells us that humanity is like a bird with two wings, women and men. A bird can only fly when both wings are strong and equally developed. That, humanity cannot go forward until women receive equality in education, jobs and all things can the human race to go forward.
In many countries only men receive education, either due to lack of money or tradition. It is argued that men have to support their families, but Baha’u’llah tells us that a woman’s education is more important because they are the ones that usually nurture, educate and raise the children. For each generation to progress they all children need a good education and that generally starts in the home.
It is also believed that if women were equal to men in all aspects, there would be better chance of world unity and peace. This due to the probability that women would be less likely to send their children off to war and therefore peace would be more possible.
Read below what Abdu’l-Baha (the eldest son of Baha’u’llah) had to say on the issue of Equality of Women and Men:
One of these principles concerns equality between men and women. He declared that as all are created in the image and likeness of the one God, there is no distinction as to sex in the estimation of God. He who is purest in heart, whose knowledge exceeds and who excels in kindness to the servants of God, is nearest and dearest to the Lord, our Creator, irrespective of sex. In the lower kingdoms, the animal and vegetable, we find sex differentiation in function and organism. All plants, trees and animals are subject to that differentiation by creation, but among themselves there is absolute equality without further distinction as to sex. Why, then, should mankind make a distinction which the lower creatures do not regard? Especially so when we realize that all are of the same kingdom and kindred; that all are the leaves of one tree, the waves of one sea? The only reasonable explanation is that woman has not been afforded the same educational facilities as man. For if she had received the same opportunities for training and development as man has enjoyed, undoubtedly she would have attained the same station and level. In the estimate of God no distinction exists; both are as one and possess equal degrees of capacity. Therefore, through opportunity and development woman will merit and attain the same prerogatives.
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 394)
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