1) Is the “Equality of Men and Women” a novel principle?
Both feminist and women’s rights movements had been lobbying for equal rights for women years before the advent of Baha’is and Bahā’u’llāh.
2) Did the leaders of Baha’ism act upon this principle?
Bahā’u’llāh and Abdu’l-Bahā’s laws about inheritance, dowry, polygamy, pilgrimage, membership of the UHJ . . . are only a few of samples that show Baha’i leaders did not practice what they preached.
3) Is this principle rational and logical?
If ‘equality’ means men and women have completely equal rights and duties, then this principle is not rational, for these two sexes have great psychological and physical differences which necessitate different rights and laws. But if equality means men and women should have rights proportional to their specific traits, then Baha’ism has brought forth nothing new, and all Abrahamic religions had already established such practice.
Courtesy: Twelve Principles – A Comprehensive Investigation on the Bahai Teachings
12 Principles of the Baha'i Faith 