A battle has ensued over the years in which women have sought equal rights with men.

In God's presence there is no battle. He does not differentiate is His blessings. Each being is a perfect idea of the Father–Mother, equally reflecting divine qualities. And God loves and cherishes all His children with the same benevolence.

There was a time in the business world when I felt the need to fight for my right to be accepted as an equal in my profession. I was doing the same work as a man and yet receiving less compensation. There was an inner struggle that I found difficult to handle. Then, as time passed, the thought of acquiescence kept coming to me, and as I reasoned from a spiritual standpoint, I reached an answer.

It was to accept the indisputable facts. Because I reflected Mind, I could never be denied one moment of inspired thought or encounter anything that would keep me from being creative. Because I reflected Soul, my identity was already established in the infinite realm of God's universe. Because I reflected Principle, I was subject only to God's universe. Because I reflected Principle, I was subject only to God's law of justice. Therefore, I could not be deprived of anything real because of human concepts regarding sex. In God's sight I was equal with each of His beloved children. As I pursued this line of reasoning, resentment began to fade. Larger responsibilities were given to me with increased pay.

How easily we can be intimidated by the spurious claims of unfair discrimination. No favoritism exists in God's kingdom, only in mortal thought and act. Mrs. Eddy shows how prayer guards and protects us from the mental intrusion of error, or animal magnetism, which would subtly suggest that God's love does not encompass all. If we do not defend ourselves against this enemy, we can be led to believe that one individual is superior to another. We must have the impetus of the Christ and the spiritual dimension that lead to demonstration of what is true of all God's creatures.

When we find ourselves in a situation of seeming injustice, should we fight or acquiesce? The basic need is to resist human will and submit to divine law, which knows no inequality. When we reach the point of being quietly aware of the all–presence of the Father, who sees every individual man and woman as His perfect idea, only good can result.

God's law might be thought of as being like the multiplication table in that no one person or select group can possess it alone. It is universal and applicable to everyone at any time in any place.

Women and men can assert their God–bestowed right to draw upon an inexhaustible source of divine power. Then, for example, there will be less resistance to women assuming positions of importance in government, in education, in industry. As this primary step is taken, our capabilities are increased and demonstrated, and discrimination fades.

After pointing out the unreality of material existence and the true nature of man as immortal and perfect, Mrs. Eddy advises, "Learn this, O mortal, and earnestly seek the spiritual status of man, which is outside of all material selfhood."^{Science and Health, p. 476;} Equality is God–ordained, God–decreed. Each individual is a product of the divine Mind, singular in identity but included in the whole manifestation of Mind.

In the Christian Science textbook Mrs. Eddy also says, "To measure intellectual capacity by the size of the brain and strength by the exercise of muscle, is to subjugate intelligence, to make mind mortal, and to place this so–called mind at the mercy of material organization and non–intelligent matter." ^{ibid., p. 165;}

What an inspiration Mrs. Eddy's own life can be to us all! Our Leader maintained her right to establish Christian Science as a viable, active, healing religion. She acknowledged her divine mission and her spiritual origin, and acquiesced only in the divine will. This gave her the courage and the ability to hold her ground and to continue the uphill struggle.

Could this dedicated, God–inspired woman have achieved her goal by self–will and human determination? It was moment–to–moment self–abnegation and relinquishment of all sense of personal selfhood that enabled her to establish the Church of Christ, Scientist.

Should we face situations of prejudice, we can stand fast in the knowledge and certainty of the Bible's assurance, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" ^{Rom. 8:31;} God is always at our right hand, a sure deliverer from all evil, whatever form it may assume.

If you look on discrimination as your enemy, consider Mrs. Eddy's admonition, "Can you see an enemy, except you first formulate this enemy and then look upon the object of your own conception?" ^{Miscellaneious Writings, p. 8.}

Fight or acquiesce? Challenge the claims of evil; acquiesce in God's demands.