Online Reporter
Flora Teckie-A Baha’i Perspective
As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, we reflect on the crucial role of women’s empowerment for the advancement of humanity, and the shared roles of men and women in achieving this goal.
The progress and empowerment of women and attaining their rightful and equal status with men, is fundamental to the future wellbeing of the earth and its people.
The emancipation of women is not only necessary for the future wellbeing of our societies. It is also a prerequisite to global peace.
According to a statement of the Bahá’í International Community: “The advancement of civilisation now requires the full participation of everyone, including women.
“Women must, therefore, be educated, not only for the service they render to humanity as the first educators of children, but ultimately, for the special contributions women must make to the creation of a just world order, an order characterised by such compassion, vigour and scope has never been seen in history”.
There is a need to create the conditions in which girls and women can develop to their full potential, remembering that, the “happiness of mankind”, according to the Bahá’í Writings, “will be realised when women and men coordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet of the other”.
Equality is an essential aspect of a broader principle
The equality of women and men, in the Bahá’í view, is an essential aspect of a broader principle: the oneness of humanity.
In the context of the oneness of humanity, gender equality is not only a requirement of justice, but also a pre-requisite for peace and prosperity. The wellbeing of humanity depends on the development of the potential virtues and abilities of every individual, regardless of gender, race, nationality, class, or religion.
Education plays a vital role in achieving gender equality. The education of every child, and the development of their personality, talents, mental and physical abilities, and spiritual qualities to their fullest potential, is the right of every child; whether boy or girl. Education of girls is not only a right; it is also in the best interests of society as a whole.
According to the Bahá’í Writings: “Men and women are equal in the sight of God … there is no distinction to be made between them.
“The only difference between them now is due to lack of education and training. If a woman is given equal opportunity of education, distinction and estimate of inferiority will disappear”.
The principle of the equality of men and women does not imply sameness or identity of function, but it denies any implication of superiority associated with functional differences.
As the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith, says: “Equality between men and women does not, indeed physiologically it cannot, mean identity of function. In some things women excel men, in others men are better than women, while in very many things the difference in sex is of no effect at all”.
For example, in a family both parents share in the overall responsibility of educating their children, but the mother is given recognition and privilege of being their first educator.
The challenge is creating the conditions in which women and girls can develop to their full potential. Such conditions will require not only deliberate attempts to change various structures of society, but equally importantly, to bring about the transformation of individuals — men and women, boys and girls.
The essence of any programme of social change is the understanding that the individual has a spiritual or moral dimension. This shapes their understanding of their life’s purpose, their responsibilities towards the family, the community, and the world. The development of individuals’ moral and spiritual capabilities, as well as changes in social structures, are necessary for eliminating discrimination against girls and women.
When gender equality is established, peace may be realised
Belief in the oneness of humanity, and in gender equality, are among the basic prerequisites leading to justice and ultimately to harmony and peace. It is the requirement of justice that everyone is treated equally and with dignity.
According to the Bahá’í Writings, “…when perfect equality shall be established between men and women, peace may be realised for the simple reason that womankind in general will never favour warfare.
“Women will not be willing to allow those whom they have so tenderly cared for to go to the battlefield” and “when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world…war will cease”.
The equality of men and women will bring about a more balanced world, a world in which the more masculine qualities of strength and courage will be balanced by intuition, love and service: qualities in which women are strong.
“Women and men,” the Bahá’í Writings state, “have been and will always be equal in the sight of God”.
The rational soul has no gender, and whatever social inequities may have been dictated by the survival requirements of the past, they clearly cannot be justified at a time when humanity stands at the threshold of maturity.
- Feedback: [email protected] or [email protected]
