The Educational Functions of Women and Men Differences With an Emphasis on Nahj-ul-Balagha Teachings

Although modern philosophy, biology, and psychology have expressed points on the gender-based differences of women and men, these teachings cannot explain all aspects of these differences and their functions. Therefore, since the gender-based difference between women and men and its educational functions have been emphasized in religious teachings – especially those of Nahj-ul-Balagha – it is necessary to review and re-explain this issue based on these resources. To this end, this article rereads the gender-based difference between women and men and its educational functions based on Islamic knowledge, especially that of Nahj-ul-Balagha, and gives in a new interpretation of it. The findings indicate that women are different from men in three arenas, namely physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects. Moreover, these three sets of differences manifest different and diverse educational functions in women, including functions related to beauty and softness, appropriate occupation, fineness and art, sympathy and peacefulness, excitement, kindness, wisdom, and social collaboration.