A Compilaton on Women Part 3

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 balance is already s.h.i.+fting; force is losing its dominance, and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age will be an age less masculine and more permeated with the feminine ideals, or, to speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced.

(J. E. Esslemont, "Baha'u'llah and the New Era", 5th rev. ed. (Wilmette: Baha'i Publis.h.i.+ng Trust, 1987), p. 149) [25]

Extracts From Letters Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi:

26: If presented properly the position of women in the Baha'i teachings will...

If presented properly the position of women in the Baha'i teachings will surely attract much attention, for it is not only legal but also spiritual and educational. Our ideals are so high and at the same time so practicable that all other views will fall short if compared to them.

(7 January 1931 to the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of India and Burma) [26]

27: As regards your question concerning the members.h.i.+p of the Universal House...

As regards your question concerning the members.h.i.+p of the Universal House of Justice: there is a Tablet from 'Abdul-Baha in which He definitely states that the members.h.i.+p of the Universal House is confined to men, and that the wisdom of it will be fully revealed and appreciated in the future. In the local as well as the national Houses of Justice, however, women have the full right of members.h.i.+p. It is, therefore, only to the International House that they cannot be elected. The Baha'is should accept this statement of the Master in a spirit of deep faith, confident that there is a divine guidance and wisdom behind it which will be gradually unfolded to the eyes of the world.

(28 July 1936 to an individual believer) [27]

28: As regards the members.h.i.+p of the International House of Justice,...

As regards the members.h.i.+p of the International House of Justice, 'Abdu'l-Baha states in a Tablet that it is confined to men, and that the wisdom of it will be revealed as manifest as the sun in the future. In any case the believers should know that, as 'Abdu'l-Baha Himself has explicitly stated that s.e.xes are equal except in some cases, the exclusion of women from the International House of Justice should not be surprising.

From the fact that there is no equality of functions between the s.e.xes one should not, however, infer that either s.e.x is inherently superior or inferior to the other, or that they are unequal in their rights.

(14 December 1940 to the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of India and Burma) [28]

Extracts From Letters Written by the Universal House of Justice:

29: It is apparent from the Guardian's writings that where Baha'u'llah...

It is apparent from the Guardian's writings that where Baha'u'llah has expressed a law as between a man and a woman it applies, mutatis mutandis, between a woman and a man unless the context should make this impossible.

For example, the text of the "Kitab-i-Aqdas" forbids a man to marry his father's wife (i.e. his step-mother), and the Guardian has indicated that likewise a woman is forbidden to marry her step-father....

(28 April 1974 to an individual believer) [29]

30: Concerning your questions about the equality of men and women, this, as...

Concerning your questions about the equality of men and women, this, as 'Abdu'l-Baha has often explained, is a fundamental principle of Baha'u'llah; therefore the Laws of the "Aqdas" should be studied in the light of it. Equality between men and women does not, indeed physiologically it cannot, mean ident.i.ty of functions. In some things women excel men, for others men are better fitted than women, while in very many things the difference of s.e.x is of no effect at all. The differences of function are most apparent in family life. The capacity for motherhood has many far-reaching implications which are recognized in Baha'i Law. For example, when it is not possible to educate all one's children, daughters receive preference over sons, as mothers are the first educators of the next generation. Again, for physiological reasons, women are granted certain exemptions from fasting that are not applicable to men.

(24 July 1975 to an individual believer) [30]

31: The primary question to be resolved is how the present world, with its...

The primary question to be resolved is how the present world, with its entrenched pattern of conflict, can change to a world in which harmony and co-operation will prevail.

World order can be founded only on an unshakable consciousness of the oneness of mankind, a spiritual truth which all the human sciences confirm. Anthropology, physiology, psychology, recognize only one human species, albeit infinitely varied in the secondary aspects of life.

Recognition of this truth requires abandonment of prejudice-prejudice of every kind-race, cla.s.s, colour, creed, nation, s.e.x, degree of material civilization, everything which enables people to consider themselves superior to others.

Acceptance of the oneness of mankind is the first fundamental prerequisite for reorganization and administration of the world as one country, the home of humankind. Universal acceptance of this spiritual principle is essential to any successful attempt to establish world peace....

(October 1985 to the Peoples of the World) [31]

From Letters Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice

32: To the general premise that women and men have equality in the Faith,...

To the general premise that women and men have equality in the Faith, this, as often explained by 'Abdu'l-Baha, is a fundamental principle deriving from Baha'u'llah and therefore His mention of the "Men of Justice" in the Kitab-i-Aqdas should be considered in light of that principle....

(29 June 1976 to an individual believer) [32]

33: ...'Abdu'l-Baha a.s.serts: "In this divine age the bounties of G.o.d have...

...'Abdu'l-Baha a.s.serts: "In this divine age the bounties of G.o.d have encompa.s.sed the world of women. Equality of men and women, except in some negligible instances, has been fully and categorically announced.

Distinctions have been utterly removed." That men and women differ from one another in certain characteristics and functions is an inescapable fact of nature; the important thing is that He regards such inequalities as remain between the s.e.xes as being "negligible".

(8 January 1981 to the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the United States) [33]