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`Abdu'l-Bahá in London
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Pages 101-103
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Woman's Work
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1 |
`Abdu'l-Bahá's interest in women's work and
progress is well known, and among the notable
leaders who came to see him, may be mentioned
Mrs. Annie Besant, President of the Theosophical
Society, the organizers of various suffrage bodies,
civic and philanthropic workers, the principals of
several woman's colleges and lady doctors.
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2 |
A spirited conversation due to the visit of an
ardent suffragist will be long remembered by
those who had the privilege of being present. The
room was full of men and women, many Persians
being seated in their familiar respectful attitude
on the floor.
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3 |
After contrasting the general position of the
Eastern and the Western women, and then
describing how in many respects the Eastern
woman has the advantage of her Western sister,
`Abdu'l-Bahá turned and said to the visitor: "Give
me your reasons for believing that woman today
should have the vote?"
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4 |
Answer: "I believe that humanity is a divine
humanity and that it must rise higher and higher;
but it cannot soar with only one wing."
`Abdu'l-Bahá expressed his pleasure at this
answer, and smiling, replied: "But what will you
do if one wing is stronger than the other?" Answer:
"Then we must strengthen the weaker wing,
otherwise the flight will always be hampered."
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5 |
`Abdu'l-Bahá smiled and asked: "What will
you say if I prove to you that the woman is the
stronger wing?"
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6 |
The answer came in the same bright vein:
"You will earn my eternal gratitude!" at which all
the company made merry.
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7 |
`Abdu'l-Bahá then continued more seriously:
"The woman is indeed of the greater importance
to the race. She has the greater burden and the
greater work. Look at the vegetable and the
animal worlds. The palm which carries the fruit is
the tree most prized by the date grower. The Arab
knows that for a long journey the mare has the
longest wind. For her greater strength and
fierceness, the lioness is more feared by the hunter
than the lion.
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8 |
"The mere size of the brain has been proved to
be no measure of superiority. The woman has
greater moral courage than the man; she has also
special gifts which enable her to govern in
moments of danger and crisis. If necessary she
can become a warrior."
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