Equality

The Baha'i Faith, whose teachings, principles, and laws guide the Baha'i International Community, is the first religion to proclaim unequivocally the principle of equality of rights, privileges and responsibilities for men and women.

The world of humanity is possessed of two wings -- the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment.

Changing Attitudes

The greatest incentive for both Baha'i men and women to change their attitudes comes from numerous statements in the Baha'i writings upholding the equality of men and women. These are widely disseminated and studied in conferences, seminars, and regular gatherings.

In addition, throughout the last ten years all of the national Baha'i communities in Africa have held national, regional, and local women's conferences for the specific purpose of increasing the awareness and involvement of women.

Where women are reticent to speak in mixed gatherings, these conferences provide a setting in which they feel free to express their thoughts and find a source of mutual sharing and encouragement. Topics covered relate to the status of women, male-female relations, the education of children, and the importance of the family. One interesting footnote is that in numerous instances, the men in local communities have accepted to care for the children and prepare food during women's conferences.

Several national communities have prepared women's periodicals, and all have carried articles for and about women in their national bulletins. An increasing amount of literature and special materials in national and vernacular languages has been prepared on subjects of interest to women, often serving as a basis for the conferences held.

Education of the Family

When attempting to change attitudes, it is important to recognize the role that the family plays. The family is the basic unit of society, the nation in miniature.

Simply enlarge the circle of the household and you have the nation. The happenings in the family are the happenings in the life of the nation.

If love and agreement are manifest in a single family, that family will advance, become illumined and spiritual; but if enmity and hatred exist within it, destruction and dispersion are inevitable.

Principles such as equality, unity and cooperation, therefore, must be taught first in the family. This can only be done where there is a commitment to these ideals and a recognition that each family member has rights as well as duties to the family.

Consultation must guide the process of decision making in the family. This principle allows both husband and wife equal freedom of expression. With this foundation the issues of sharing work, overcoming stereotyped roles, and allowing women to progress are made easier.

Education of Women

The Baha'i writings place a great deal of emphasis on the education of women.

If woman be fully educated and granted her rights, she will attain the capacity for wonderful accomplishments and prove herself equal to man. Both are human, both are endowed with potentialities of intelligence and embody the virtues of humanity... Without doubt education will establish her equality with men.

Although both parents share in the overall responsibility of educating children, the mother is given recognition as the first educator of humanity, and she must be carefully prepared for this task. In fact, from the Baha'i view her education

...is more necessary and important than that of man, for woman is the trainer of the child from its infancy. If she be defective and imperfect herself the child will necessarily be deficient; therefore imperfection of woman implies a condition of imperfection in all mankind, for it is the mother who rears, nurtures and guides the growth of the child.

Universal compulsory education for both boys and girls is a principle of the Baha'i Faith. The Baha'i writings emphasize "the adoption of the same course of education for man and woman," making clear that "daughters and sons must follow the same curriculum of study, thereby promoting unity of the sexes."

Women in Policy Making

Of the forty national administrative bodies of the Baha'i International Community in Africa, most have women elected to serve on them. Of the thousands of local administrative bodies the vast majority have also elected women. These administrative bodies are elected by a process of secret ballot without nomination or electioneering, in which women have equal opportunities with men, as voters and as possible candidates. Voters are encouraged to make their choices based on qualities and abilities rather than on the basis of sex, race, or other external considerations.

Decisions at all levels within the Baha'i community are made by a process of consultation in which concerned individual members express their views in a frank and open manner until such time as a consensus is achieved. This is done irrespective of race, class, educational level, or sex. The practice of consultation provides training for women in analytical thinking, self-expression and decision making. In fact, for many women, particularly in rural areas, their election to Baha'i administrative bodies provides their first opportunity to consult and to have their views weighed and considered on an equal level with men.

Even for those women not holding administrative positions, the Nineteen-Day Feast, a regular spiritual and administrative meeting in every Baha'i community, provides another opportunity for any woman to express her views and participate in decision making.

Development

Development and human progress are often considered only in terms of accomplishing a higher standard of living. While the Baha'i International Community feels that this understanding of development is essential for the well-being and the happiness of human beings, we suggest that true progress must have a spiritual foundation based on universal principles. The pivotal principle is the recognition of the oneness of humankind and the inter-dependence of all peoples and nations on the planet.

On the firm basis of universal principles and such qualities as unity, integrity, cooperation, trustworthiness, and truthfulness, communities can make meaningful strides towards self-reliance. Baha'i communities are beginning to engage in social and economic projects based on the natural stirrings from the local communities, and on their commitment to improving the quality of life.

Women's conferences, in addition to providing a forum for discussing such principles as equality, unity, the importance of mothering and the family, usually include practical aspects such as health, nutrition, energy conservation, sewing, crafts and appropriate technology.

Peace

Women will play an increasingly important role in the social evolution of humankind and the bringing about of world peace.

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 scales are already shifting, force is losing its weight, and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy.

So it will come to pass that when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics, war will cease; for women will be the obstacle and hindrance to it.

Strategies for the Future

Sexual inequalities and prejudices are deeply rooted in traditional beliefs and practices. Customs that delegate women the sole responsibility of running the household, that hold her ideas and opinions as inferior, that will not allow her to speak when men are present, and that give preference in education to boys, must give way to increased opportunities for women to fulfill their potential.

Areas still requiring continued effort are:

1. Increased dialogue of women with women at local, regional, national, and international levels.
2. The production of materials suitable for illiterate and semi-literate women.
3. Continued educational opportunities for children -- to provide equal opportunities to both boys and girls.
4. Increased opportunity for family counselling -- especially in urban areas.
5. Increased access for women to literacy programmes.
6. Increased access to appropriate technology to relieve household chores.

Above all, the greatest need is for the establishment of the oneness of humankind, universal peace, and the recognition of a spiritual foundation as the only true basis for human progress.

Notes

All quotations are from the Baha'i Writings.