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In observance of Women’s History Month, we pay tribute to Ghodsieh Ashraf (1889-1976), a Baha’i who was one of the first Iranian women to have obtained a university degree in America. Ms. Ashraf was a philanthropist and an initiator and organizer of numerous educational and health projects, mainly for women and children. She was attending the Lewis [...]
In observance of Women’s History Month, we pay tribute to some notable American Baha’i Women: Keith Ransom-Kehler (1876-1933) Keith Ransom-Kehler was born Nannie Keith Bean in Dayton, Kentucky in 1876. She was well-educated, receiving a bachelor’s degree in child psychology from Vassar College in 1898, and independent of spirit. Ransom-Kehler became a Baha’i in 1921 and, shortly [...]
Becoming a Baha’i was a life-changing event for me. The single most compelling principle was the equality of women and men. This Faith dared to imagine a world where men and women respected each other. To me, that sounded like paradise on earth. Becoming a Baha’i was part of my journey to mentor other women. [...]
by Janet Ruhe-Schoen, author of the biography: Rejoice in My Gladness: The Life of Tahirih August 26 is Women’s Equality Day and this month also marks the 159th anniversary of the death of Tahirih, the women’s rights martyr and one of the first members of the Baha’i Faith in the world. The exact day of her [...]
Women’s retreat uses music, art, dance to nourish souls
Spiritual retreat celebrates women’s strengths and provides mutual support
Amnesty International: Global Women’s Day celebration in Iran marred by continued detention of dozens of women
Today on International Women’s Day, Amnesty International made a public statement calling on “the Iranian authorities to release immediately all women detained arbitrarily in Iran, including political activists, rights defenders and members of religious and ethnic minorities.” Read the Full Statement
Engaging faith communities in addressing domestic violence took center stage at a recent meeting of the Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition (IDVC) with Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, and Joshua DuBois, head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Gleibys Buchanan, Representative for the Advancement of Women for the National Spiritual Assembly of the [...]
A Woman’s Place – Respect Begins Early
In Baha’i Education, a personal reflection on the Baha’i Writings and general education, this blogger shares the contention that the advancement of the status of women begins at home. Is your home a place of respect for all? Is it a place that respects women? Is the power of consultation utilized or do traditions and [...]
Two women’s rights bills reach critical point at year end
Nearly 150 years ago, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Bahá’u’lláh, espoused a universal principle: “Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God.” Although by many measures the status of women and girls has improved since that time, gender inequality still persists today. In 2010, significant progress was [...]
Women of all backgrounds experience traditional ceremony as an extension of regular prayer gatherings in Durham, North Carolina.
Happy Birthday 19th Amendment! Believe it or not, it’s only been 90 years since the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote in our democracy was made part of the Constitution. Since 1971, we’ve celebrated the anniversary of August 26, 1920, as Women’s Equality Day. One great way to celebrate would be to make sure [...]
The International Violence Against Women Act presents a critical opportunity for the United States to protect, defend, and empower the world’s women. This comprehensive piece of legislation, long-supported by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the U.S., will integrate violence prevention in U.S. foreign policy and support innovative programs that have been shown [...]
For decades, the Baha’is of the United States have worked to advance the status of women by advocating policies and legislation that promote gender equality, including the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Learn more about CEDAW. Time and time again President Obama has declared his support for women [...]
The Baha’i Faith has some lofty goals. To name just a few: developing a consciousness of world citizenship, the establishment of full equality between men and women, the elimination of all forms of prejudice and the development of an economy informed by spiritual principles. Many people might think of these ideas as utopian, and rightly [...]
We know that women and girls around the world face violence and discrimination daily. We also know that CEDAW, the Women’s Treaty, helps women and girls to go to school, to own and inherit property, to take part in public life, and to fight violence. We need Senate action on the CEDAW Treaty (the Convention [...]
Baha’i representatives will join the Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition on Tuesday, May 11, in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the swift passage of International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA)—America’s first comprehensive legislation to end violence against women and girls around the world. According to the coalition, approximately one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced [...]
NEW YORK — When Jan Floyd-Douglass decided to buy a new car, she bypassed suitable models from eight different manufacturers – and then wrote to tell them why.
On Thursday, February 4, 2010, Members of Congress introduced the groundbreaking International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA)! The bill is H.R. 4594 in the House and S. 2982 in the Senate.
She didn’t make it to episode three, but Pamela Ptak is confident that her favorite designer had His hand in it, and that He knows what He’s doing.
On October 1, 2009, Baha’is attended a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled, “Violence Against Women: Global Costs and Consequences.”
Take a closer look into the Baha’i Faith through the eyes of a youth, Ms. Nava Ghalili, a life-long Baha’i, who was interviewed for the documentary series, "One-on-one: An Interfaith Dialogue."
Each year on August 26, the United States commemorates Women’s Equality Day, honoring the hard work of many courageous women who, 89 years ago, succeeded in securing the right to vote for future generations.
Visitors to the Baha’i House of Worship for the North American Continent in Wilmette, Ill., are attracted not only to its peace and serenity, but to its beauty, both inside and out.