The conversation about gender equality continues to evolve, and a recent episode of the Bahá’í World News Service podcast explores the spiritual foundations of this essential issue. Representatives from the Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, and New York Offices of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) reflect on the progress made and the barriers that still exist in achieving true equality between women and men.
The Progress and Challenges in Advancing Women’s Rights
Bani Dugal, from the New York Office, acknowledges both the advancements and setbacks in gender equality. “In the past 50 years or so, we have seen an advancement in the status of women and girls,” she explains. “But on the flip side, we are seeing a pushback. Even in countries where we see a lot of what one call is equality, we are seeing a rise in violence against women.”
Hatem El-Hady, from the Cairo Office, discusses the deep-rooted cultural and historical assumptions that have contributed to inequality. He stresses that the recognition of human nobility must transcend social constructs, saying, “That aspect of recognition of the nobility of the human being, which is our primary identity, needs to supersede any other recognition of secondary identities.”
Transforming Society Through New Understandings of Power and Participation
Rachel Bayani, from the Brussels Office, challenges prevailing conceptions of power that limit women’s full participation in society. “There are certain assumptions that are made as to what power entails. …Women are often encouraged to adopt those qualities…rather than other qualities that truly transform society.”
Shemona Moonilal, from the Addis Ababa Office, highlights the importance of including both men and women in discussions on gender equality. “What is really important in the conversation about the equality of women and men is for both to be included. … More and more, as men are included, this collective learning process will become stronger.”
She further emphasizes that systemic change requires strong relationships between institutions, communities, and individuals to create lasting transformation. “There are certain assumptions that at the institutional level, if there are policies, transformation will occur. But that sometimes negates the role of the individual or how to see them as protagonists.”
Education as a Catalyst for Change
A key takeaway from the discussion is the role of education in fostering new understandings of gender equality. Ms. Dugal highlights how Bahá’í-inspired educational programs seek to reshape perspectives on human nature. “There are all kinds of reasons tied to social norms that prevent the advancement of women. The educational process that we see in Bahá’í communities is consciously looking to promote an understanding of who we are and what is human nature.”
These programs encourage men and women to consult and work together, leading to new patterns of relationships. “In Bahá’í communities around the world, when women and men sit together and… consult about issues impacting their community, we see that there is a natural understanding of the complementarity of women and men and how both contribute to the wellbeing of the larger society,” explains Ms. Dugal.
Listen to the Full Discussion
The podcast episode is part of the “In Conversation” series, which explores Bahá’í efforts worldwide to contribute to social progress. To gain deeper insights into the spiritual foundations of gender equality and how Bahá’í communities are fostering inclusive change, listen to the full discussion here: Click here.
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