Advancing
the Status of Women
"The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between
the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged prerequisites
of peace. The denial of such equality perpetrates an injustice against
one half of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes
and habits that are carried from the family to the workplace, to political
life, and ultimately to international relations.
There are no grounds, moral, practical, or biological, upon which such
denial can be justified. Only as women are welcomed into full partnership
in all fields of human endeavor will the moral and psychological climate
be created in which international peace can emerge."
Since its inception nearly one hundred and fifty years ago, the Bahá'í Faith has taught the equality of the sexes. Indeed, the Bahá'í Faith is the only independent world religion whose Founder has stated unequivocally that women and men are equal.
"Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God," said Bahá'u'lláh.
In accordance with this teaching, the worldwide Bahá'í community has been at the forefront of the movement to advance the rights of women for more than a century. And the Bahá'í approach, which advocates full equality and a firm sense of partnership between women and men, is increasingly recognized as being on the cutting edge of women's issues worldwide.
Bahá'ís understand, for example, that the
values which women bring to human interaction are necessary to the proper
functioning and advancement of modern society, and that qualities that
have formerly been associated with the feminine sides of our natures--such
as compassion, nurturing, cooperation and empathy--will be increasingly
important in creating a peaceful, just, and sustainable world civilization.
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