Advancement of Women The equality of men and women is a cardinal principle of the Bahá’í Faith.
Central to every project undertaken by Bahá’ís is a commitment to the goal of ensuring that men and women are allowed to work shoulder to shoulder in all fields of human endeavor—scientific, political, economic, social, and cultural—with the same rewards and in equal conditions.
Specific programs aim at eliminating prejudices against women, at establishing mechanisms to protect their interests, and at providing the education they need to take their rightful place in society. An example is the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women, which offers six-month and one-year residential programs for tribal women at its facilities in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The program combines practical skills training with consciousness raising and the development of spiritual qualities. Recognizing that attitudinal change on the part of husbands, parents, and children is equally essential, the Institute continues to work with the women after they return home and conducts conferences and meetings in their villages.
