From the beginning equality has been an important social testimony of Friends. In the seventeenth century they were ahead of their time in recognizing the rights and gifts of women in the affairs of the church, school and home. They were not perfect in this respect, but they made a good start. Very early Friends also demonstrated concern for justice and equal rights for native Americans; for the care of the insane; for the treatment of prisoners; and for the needs of the poor. In the eighteenth century they were at least a generation ahead of others in the freeing of their slaves and were zealous abolitionists.
Quakers have always opposed the use of titles in addressing other persons, and part of their reason for the "plain language" (in particular the use of "thee" and "thou") was that they not honor one person over another. Their refusal to doff their hats or bow before persons of honor, wealth, and authority represented their testimony to the equality of all persons before God. In the twentieth century this same concept has been expressed in the phrase "that of God in every one," which was Fox's way of declaring the worth and dignity, as well as the divine capacity, present in all persons.
The social testimonies, integrity, simplicity, peace and equalilty constitute the central Quaker testimonies in our day. The testimony of "community" reflects Quaker concerns for the needs of other people in the world and the belief that we are all God's Children and must be accountable to one another in looking after the needs of our sisters and brothers regardless of class, race , religion, or national origin. There is also growing concern about sexist language (which implies male dominance over women) and about the rights of persons of homosexual orientation. It must be noted, however, that Friends are by no means united on some of these concerns, including the rights of the unborn versus the mother in abortion cases.
From A Living Faith by Wilmer A. Cooper, p. 109