icular family situations, nor does it
mean that the place of the woman is confined to the home. Rather, while
primary responsibility is assigned, it is anticipated that fathers would
play a significant role in the education of the children and women could
also be breadwinners. As you rightly indicated, 'Abdu'l-Baha encouraged
women to "participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world".

In relation to your specific queries, the decision concerning the amount
of time a mother may spend in working outside the home depends on
circumstances existing within the home, which may vary from time to time.
Family consultation will help to provide the answers....

(9 August 1984) [74]

75: The great importance attached to the mother's role derives from the
fact...

The great importance attached to the mother's role derives from the fact
that she is the first educator of the child. Her attitude, her prayers,
even what she eats and her physical condition have a great influence on
the child when it is still in the womb. When the child is born, it is she
who has been endowed by God with the milk which is the first food designed
for it, and it is intended that, if possible, she should be with the baby
to train and nurture it in its earliest days and months. This does not
mean that the father does not also love, pray for, and care for his baby,
but as he has the primary responsibility of providing for the family, his
time to be with his child is usually limited, while the mother is usually
closely associated with the baby during this intensely formative time when
it is growing and developing faster than it ever will again during the
whole of its life. As the child grows older and more independent, the
relative nature of its relationship with its mother and father modifies
and the father can play a greater role.

(23 August 1984 to two believers) [75]

IV. WOMEN IN THE WORLD AT LARGE

Extract From the Writings of Baha'u'llah

76: It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of
occupation,...

It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation,
such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your
engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One.
Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render
thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness
and sloth. Occupy yourselves with t