Today questions of the utmost importance are facing humanity, questions
peculiar to this radiant century. In former centuries there was not even
mention of them. Inasmuch as this is the century of illumination, the
century of humanity, the century of divine bestowals, these questions are
being presented for the expression of public opinion, and in all the
countries of the world, discussion is taking place looking to their
solution.
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.
Furthermore, the education of woman is more necessary and important than
that of man, for woman is the trainer of the child from its infancy. If
she be defective and imperfect herself, the child will necessarily be
deficient; therefore, imperfection of woman implies a condition of
imperfection in all mankind, for it is the mother who rears, nurtures and
guides the growth of the child. This is not the function of the father. If
the educator be incompetent, the educated will be correspondingly lacking.
This is evident and incontrovertible. Could the student be brilliant and
accomplished if the teacher is illiterate and ignorant? The mothers are
the first educators of mankind; if they be imperfect, alas for the
condition and future of the race.
Again, it is well established in history that where woman has not
participated in human affairs the outcomes have never attained a state of
completion and perfection. On the other hand, every influential
undertaking of the human world wherein woman has been a participant has
attained importance. This is historically true and beyond disproof even in
religion. Jesus Christ had twelve disciples and among His followers a
woman known as Mary Magdalene. Judas Iscariot had become a traitor and
hypocrite, and after the crucifixion the remaining eleven disciples were
wavering and undecided. It is certain from the evidence of the Gospels
that the one who comforted them and reestablished their faith was Mary
Magdalene.
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
accomplishment is complete with two hands, so man and woman, the two parts
of the social body, must be perfect. It is not natural that either should
remain undeveloped; and until both are perfected, the happiness of the
human world will not be realized.
The most momentous question of this day is international peace and
arbitration, and universal peace is impossible without universal suffrage.
Children are educated by the women. The mother bears the troubles and
anxieties of rearing the child, undergoes the ordeal of its birth and
training. Therefore, it is most difficult for mothers to send to the
battlefield those upon whom they have lavished such love and care.
Consider a son reared and trained twenty years by a devoted mother. What
sleepless nights and restless, anxious days she has spent! Having brought
him through dangers and difficulties to the age of maturity, how agonizing
then to sacrifice him upon the battlefield! Therefore, the mothers will
not sanction war nor be satisfied with it. So it will come to pass that
when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when
they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics,
war will cease; for woman will be the obstacle and hindrance to it. This
is true and without doubt.
It has been objected by some that woman is not equally capable with man
and that she is deficient by creation. This is pure imagination. The
difference in capability between man and woman is due entirely to
opportunity and education. Heretofore woman has been denied the right and
privilege of equal development. If equal opportunity be granted her, there
is no doubt she would be the peer of man. History will evidence this. In
past ages noted women have arisen in the affairs of nations and surpassed
men in their accomplishments. Among them was Zenobia, Queen of the East,
whose capital was Palmyra. Even today the site of that city bears witness
to her greatness, ability and sovereignty; for there the traveler will
find ruins of palaces and fortifications of the utmost strength and
solidity built by this remarkable woman in the third century after Christ.
She was the wife of the governor-general of Athens. After her husband's
death she assumed control of the government in his stead and ruled her
province most efficiently. Afterward she conquered Syria, subdued Egypt
and founded a most wonderful kingdom with political sagacity and
thoroughness. The Roman Empire sent a great army against her. When this
army replete with martial splendor reached Syria, Zenobia herself appeared
upon the field leading her forces. On the day of battle she arrayed
herself in regal garments, placed a crown upon her head and rode forth,
sword in hand, to meet the invading legions. By her courage and military
strategy the Roman army was routed and so completely dispersed that they
were not able to reorganize in retreat. The government of Rome held
consultation, saying, "No matter what commander we send, we cannot
overcome her; therefore, the Emperor Aurelian himself must go to lead the
legions of Rome against Zenobia." Aurelian marched into Syria with two
hundred thousand soldiers. The army of Zenobia was greatly inferior in
size. The Romans besieged her in Palmyra two years without success.
Finally, Aurelian was able to cut off the city's supply of provisions so
that she and her people were compelled by starvation to surrender. She was
not defeated in battle. Aurelian carried her captive to Rome. On the day
of his entry into the city he arranged a triumphal procession--first
elephants, then lions, tigers, birds, monkeys--and after the monkeys,
Zenobia. A crown was upon her head, a chain of gold about her neck. With
queenly dignity and unconscious of humiliation, looking to the right and
left, she said, "Verily, I glory in being a woman and in having withstood
the Roman Empire." (At that time the dominion of Rome covered half the
known earth.) "And this chain about my neck is a sign not of humiliation
but of glorification. This is a symbol of my power, not of my defeat."
Among other historical women was Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great.
Russia and Turkey were at war. Muhammad Pa_sh_a, commander of the Turkish
forces, had defeated Peter and was about to take St. Petersburg. The
Russians were in a most critical position. Catherine, the wife of Peter,
said, "I will arrange this matter." She had an interview with Muhammad
Pa_sh_a, negotiated a treaty of peace and induced him to turn back. She
saved her husband and her nation. This was a great accomplishment.
Afterward she was crowned Empress of Russia and ruled with wisdom until
her death.
The discovery of America by Columbus was during the reign of Isabella of
Spain, to whose intelligence and assistance this wonderful accomplishment
was largely due. In brief, many remarkable women have appeared in the
history of the world, but further mention of them is not necessary.
Today among the Baha'is of Persia there are many women who are the very
pride and envy of the men. They are imbued with all the virtues and
excellences of humanity. They are eloquent; they are poets and scholars
and embody the quintessence of humility. In political ability and acumen
they have been able to cope and compete with representative men. They have
consecrated their lives and forfeited their possessions in martyrdom for
the sake of humanity, and the traces of their glory will last forever. The
pages of the history of Persia are illumined by the lives and records of
these women.
The purpose, in brief, is this: that if woman be fully educated and
granted her rights, she will attain the capacity for wonderful
accomplishments and prove herself the equal of man. She is the coadjutor
of man, his complement and helpmeet. Both are human; both are endowed with
potentialities of intelligence and embody the virtues of humanity. In all
human powers and functions they are partners and coequals. At present in
spheres of human activity woman does not manifest her natal prerogatives,
owing to lack of education and opportunity. Without doubt education will
establish her equality with men. Consider the animal kingdom, where no
distinction is observed between male and female. They are equal in powers
and privileges. Among birds of the air no distinction is evidenced. Their
powers are equal; they dwell together in complete unity and mutual
recognition of rights. Shall we not enjoy the same equality? Its absence
is not befitting to mankind.