In Conversation: Podcast explores spiritual foundations of equality of women and men

BIC representatives discuss how redefining power, fostering inclusive dialogue, and moral and spiritual educational programs are advancing equality of women and men.

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BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — In the latest Bahá’í World News Service podcast episode, representatives from the Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, and New York Offices of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) reflected on the advancement of women and the spiritual foundations of equality.

“In the past 50 years or so, we have seen an advancement in the status of women and girls,” explained Bani Dugal from the New York Office. “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 pointed to the root of this and other challenges: “There are lots of assumptions that are there for various reasons—whether cultural, historical, or religious interpretations—that have not given women the status that is really befitting of the nobility of a human being.”

He added: “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.”

Rachel Bayani from the Brussels Office spoke about how prevailing conceptions of power create barriers to the full participation of women in many spheres of life. “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 emphasized that progress requires inclusive dialogue to address challenges of 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.”

Mrs. Moonilal further stated that systemic change requires constructive relationships among different elements of society: “The relationship between the institutions, the community, and the individuals needs to be strong in order for change to happen. 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.”

Drawing on experiences across Bahá’í communities worldwide, Ms. Dugal highlighted Bahá’í moral and spiritual educational programs that are fostering new understandings of 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 educational processes create opportunities for new patterns of relationship to emerge, explained Ms. Dugal.

“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,” she said.

The podcast episode is part of the “In Conversation” series that explores experiences from Bahá’í efforts worldwide to contribute to social progress, from the grassroots to the international level.