Women in Art

Abstract

Though creativity has often been associated with women, historically and in the present there have been many impediments to achievement by women in art. Often relegated to the role of the “muse,” women have been expected to inspire men’s creativity but not develop their own. Household responsibilities, the rearing of children, poverty, and lack of education, support, and encouragement have been among the reasons there have been few “great” women artists. Often work by women was never discovered, was published or presented anonymously, or was credited to a male. The Bahá’í writings state that women should receive equal opportunities for education, should participate in all avenues of human endeavor, and should become proficient in the arts and sciences. Men are called upon to affirm that the capacity of women is equal to and even greater than theirs, in order to foster the development of women. In a world in which both sexes are free to express their creativity, great advances will be made.