A Compilation on Women | Page 7

so awakened and
manifest in this age that equality of man and woman is an established
fact....
...
In this day man must investigate reality impartially and without
prejudice in order to reach the true knowledge and conclusions. What,
then, constitutes the inequality between man and woman? Both are
human. In powers and function each is the complement of the other. At
most it is this: that woman has been denied the opportunities which
man has so long enjoyed, especially the privilege of education....

...
The truth is that all mankind are the creatures and servants of one God,
and in His estimate all are human. Man is a generic term applying to all
humanity. The biblical statement "Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness" does not mean that woman was not created. The image
and likeness of God apply to her as well. In Persian and Arabic there
are two distinct words translated into English as man: one meaning
man and woman collectively, the other distinguishing man as male
from woman the female. The first word and its pronoun are generic,
collective; the other is restricted to the male. This is the same in
Hebrew.
To accept and observe a distinction which God has not intended in
creation is ignorance and superstition....
It is my hope that the banner of equality may be raised throughout the
five continents where as yet it is not fully recognized and established.
In this enlightened world of the West woman has advanced an
immeasurable degree beyond the women of the Orient. And let it be
known once more that until woman and man recognize and realize
equality, social and political progress here or anywhere will not be
possible. For the world of humanity consists of two parts or members:
one is woman; the other is man. Until these two members are equal in
strength, the oneness of humanity cannot be established, and the
happiness and felicity of mankind will not be a reality. God willing,
this is to be so.
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by
'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912",
2nd. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982), pp. 74-77) [14]

15: Today questions of the utmost importance are facing humanity,
questions...
Today questions of the utmost importance are facing humanity,

questions peculiar to this radiant century....
One of these questions concerns the rights of woman and her equality
with man. In past ages it was held that woman and man were not
equal--that is to say, woman was considered inferior to man, even from
the standpoint of her anatomy and creation. She was considered
especially inferior in intelligence, and the idea prevailed universally
that it was not allowable for her to step into the arena of important
affairs. In some countries man went so far as to believe and teach that
woman belonged to a sphere lower than human. But in this century,
which is the century of light and the revelation of mysteries, God is
proving to the satisfaction of humanity that all this is ignorance and
error; nay, rather, it is well established that mankind and womankind as
parts of composite humanity are coequal and that no difference in
estimate is allowable, for all are human. The conditions in past
centuries were due to woman's lack of opportunity. She was denied the
right and privilege of education and left in her undeveloped state.
Naturally, she could not and did not advance. In reality, God has
created all mankind, and in the estimation of God there is no distinction
as to male and female. The one whose heart is pure is acceptable in His
sight, be that one man or woman. God does not inquire, "Art thou
woman or art thou man?" He judges human actions. If these are
acceptable in the threshold of the Glorious One, man and woman will
be equally recognized and rewarded.
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by
'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912",
p. 133) [15]

16: The world of humanity consists of two parts: male and female.
Each is...
The world of humanity consists of two parts: male and female. Each is
the complement of the other. Therefore, if one is defective, the other
will necessarily be incomplete, and perfection cannot be attained. There
is a right hand and a left hand in the human body, functionally equal in

service and administration. If either proves defective, the defect will
naturally extend to the other by involving the completeness of the
whole; for accomplishment is not normal unless both are perfect. If we
say one hand is deficient, we prove the inability and incapacity of the
other; for single-handed there is no full accomplishment. Just as
physical