Women Advance: The Relationship between the Bahá’í Teachings and the Women’s Movement

Abstract

This is a preliminary exploration of the relationship between the advancement of women and the Bahá'í teachings on the equality of women and men. It traces the emergence and development of the women's movement from its roots in the 18th century through the 19th and 20th centuries and into the 21st. It sets this phenomenon against the Bahá'í teachings as expressed in the writings of Bahá'u'lláh, the interpretations and talks of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the works of Shoghi Effendi, the statements and letters of the Universal House of Justice and the statements of the Bahá'í International Community; and considers whether there is any causal relationship between the two.