The observance of International Women’s Day on 8 March provided an opportunity to timely reflect on the ways and means of empowering women and girls and the role they can play in creating a peaceful world.
Despite the commitment by many of the world’s governments to the promotion of equal rights and opportunities for men and women in family, community and public life, women and girls continue to struggle against deep-rooted patterns of dominance; and the conventional beliefs that they are inferior to men make them easy targets for anger, frustration and violence.
According to the Bahá’í Writings, “The happiness of mankind will be realized when women and men coordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet of the other”.
The empowerment of women, and attaining their rightful and equal status with men, is necessary to both the individual progress and the transformation of society.
The emancipation of women is not only necessary for individual and collective well-being; it is also a prerequisite to world peace.
The Universal House of Justice, the governing council of the Bahá’í international community, states: “The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged prerequisites of peace. Only as women are welcomed into full partnership in all fields of human endeavour will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge”.
Implementing gender equality requires a shift in values, outlook and the conduct of both men and women, which will ultimately transform the underlying ethos of social institutions, making them more welcoming to women.
Education plays a vital role in the empowerment of women.
According to the Bahá’í Writings:
“… men and women are equal in the sight of God. “The only difference between them now is due to lack of education and training. If woman is given equal opportunity of education, distinction and estimate of inferiority will disappear.”
The Bahá’í vision of equality of men and women rests on the central spiritual principle of the oneness of humankind.
In that context, gender equality is not only a requirement of justice, but it is a pre-requisite for peace and prosperity.
The well-being of mankind depends on the development of the potential virtues and abilities of every individual, regardless of gender, race, nationality, class or religion.
Gender equality will bring about a more balanced and peaceful world, a world in which the more masculine qualities of force and courage will be balanced by intuition, love and service; qualities in which women are strong.
The responsibility for change that will bring about gender equality rests both with men and women.
Together, men and women can build a more balanced world in which everyone would enjoy the benefits of justice, peace and prosperity.
) Flora Teckie is a professional architect, a Bahá’í Faith follower, and spiritual columnist.
