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God has created all creatures in couples. Man, beast, or vegetable, all the things
of these three kingdoms are of two sexes, and there is absolute equality between them.
In the vegetable world
there are male plants and female plants; they have equal rights, and possess
an equal share of the beauty of their species; though indeed the tree
that bears fruit might be said to be superior to that which is unfruitful.
In the animal kingdom we see that the male and the female have equal
rights; and that they each share the advantages of their kind.
Now in the two lower kingdoms of nature we have seen that there is no question
of the superiority of one sex over the other. In the world of humanity
we find a great difference; the female sex is treated as though inferior,
and is not allowed equal rights and privileges. This condition is due
not to nature, but to education. In the Divine Creation there is no such
distinction.
Gardens at Bahjí, 'Akká, Israel. 
Neither sex is superior to the other in the sight of God. Why then should one
sex assert the inferiority of the other, withholding just rights and privileges
as though God had given His authority for such a course of action? If
women received the same educational advantages as those of men, the result
would demonstrate the equality of capacity of both for scholarship.
In some respects woman
is superior to man. She is more tender-hearted, more receptive, her intuition is more intense.
It is not to be denied
that in various directions woman at present is more backward than man,
also that this temporary inferiority is due to the lack of educational
opportunity. In the necessity of life, woman is more instinct with power
than man, for to her he owes his very existence.
If the mother is educated
then her children will be well taught. When the mother is wise, then will
the children be led into the path of wisdom. If the mother be religious
she will show her children how they should love God. If the mother is
moral she guides her little ones into the ways of uprightness.
It is clear therefore
that the future generation depends on the mothers of today. Is not this
a vital responsibility for the woman? Does she not require every possible
advantage to equip her for such a task?
Therefore, surely, God
is not pleased that so important an instrument as woman should suffer
from want of training in order to attain the perfections desirable and
necessary for her great life's work!
Baha'is of the Northeast United States gather in Stamford, Connecticut
Justice demands that the rights of both sexes should be equally respected since
neither is superior to the other in the eyes of Heaven. Dignity before
God depends, not on sex, but on purity and luminosity of heart. Human
virtues belong equally to all!
Woman must endeavour then to attain greater perfection, to be man's
equal in every respect, to make progress in all in which she has been backward, so that man will
be compelled to acknowledge her equality of capacity and attainment.
In Europe women have
made greater progress than in the East, but there is still much to be
done! When students have arrived at the end of their school term an examination
takes place, and the result thereof determines the knowledge and capacity
of each student. So will it be with woman; her actions will show her power,
there will no longer be any need to proclaim it by words.
It is my hope that women
of the East, as well as their Western sisters, will progress rapidly until
humanity shall reach perfection.
God's Bounty is for
all and gives power for all progress. When men own the equality of women
there will be no need for them to struggle for their rights! One of the
principles then of Bahá'u'lláh is the equality of sex.
The Bahá'í Terraces, Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
Women must make the
greatest effort to acquire spiritual power and to increase in the virtue
of wisdom and holiness until their enlightenment and striving succeeds
in bringing about the unity of mankind. They must work with a burning
enthusiasm to spread the Teaching of Bahá'u'lláh among the
peoples, so that the radiant light of the Divine Bounty may envelop the
souls of all the nations of the world!
('Abdu'l-Bahá:
Paris Talks, Pages: 160-163)
    
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