| Bahá'u'lláh has raised the status of women: '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 . . . 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 coloured, is entitled to full rights and recognition; there is no differentiation whatsoever.'6 |
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| One Bahá'í principle which demonstrates the high status of women is that women have priority of education over men: '. . . the education of woman is more necessary and important than that of man, for woman is the trainer of the child from its infancy . . . The mothers are the first educators of mankind; if they be imperfect, alas for the condition and future of the race . . . '7 'Devote ye particular attention to the school for girls, for the greatness of this wondrous Age will be manifested as a result of progress in the world of women.'8 |
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| One result of providing women with an education is that peace will be established: '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. 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.'9 |
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| The Bahá'í Faith does not teach that men and women are the same, but rather that they have different but equal qualities which complement each other. One of the major obstacles to peace is that the qualities of the female are not fully realized in the world at large: '. . . men and women have basic and distinct qualities. The solution provided in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh is not . . . for men to become women, and for women to become men. 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave us the key to the problem when He taught that the qualities and functions of men and women "complement" each other. He further elucidated this point when He said the "new age" will be "an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more properly balanced."'10 |
| [BD 237-238] |
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| See also: Equality of Men and Women |
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