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]