Wow! Great responses....I will start at the top.
I never bought into the woman is to be in subjection to man. I've always treated woman as equals. Different, but equals.
That is how I see things now. Different being the key.
We have suffered as a civilization because women have not had a voice in international relations, and in a similiar manner, we have suffered in our individual societies for the same reason.
I agree, Francois.
Matriarchy is no better than patriarchy.
Absoloutly!
But who gives a shit what I think?
Many, Many of us!
Where is your head covering????
I only had a piece of TP, will that do?
I must admit, I have been let down by having a woman boss. Hopefully, this was just a one-off nightmare.
The problem was the way that Paul wrote and the way his letters are misinterpreted. There were clues in the way our Lord treated women but it looked like Paul supported the Jewish view of women.
I don't think the let down was a one time thing....I'll get back to that.
I think Paul was one messed up dude. We give way to much meaning and power to his words. By "we" I mean anyone who follows Christianity. I don't think he like women.
My wife is equal to me, and sometimes even in charge. ;) Of course, she was before too. I just acted like I was.
As it should be!
I always had a problem with the "down with sisters" attitude which was always obviously or subliminally communicated to the congregation members both verbally and in print.
made me more sensitive towards females not being understand or appreciated.
That attitude is so much a part of their culture. It is subliminal. Just like most of the propaganda; you hear it and read it so many times. By the time you could have figured out that it is complete bull, it is too late. You are in to deep.
I recall a gay elder in our hall. Philip XXX, he was very low key. All the sisters loved him. He was always willing to listen. They initially tried to fix him up, then determined that he was not "interested" in women. How many straight men are not interested in women, when they are in their 20's?! He ended up contracting AIDS. It was like Rock Hudson coming out; the cong. acknowledged he had AIDS, then when he died (this was about 1985) they said it was pneumonia. Well, Duh! He literally shriveled up before our eyes. He got really skinny and weak. It took months for him to pass away. However, he was very compassionate towards women.
Some of the exjw men I've met have deep and lasting hang ups about the gov body and women. They carry a lot of baggage around inside them. I believe that they still feel that women are lesser creatures. Nonexjw men are not perfect and may even carry the same hangups for different reasons, but it is so refreshing to be around them.
Windchaser, I would have to agree...I am sure the exjw's on the board are trying to get over that. However, when you have been given unquestionable power over someone, it has to be hard to let go of that. I would guess it would be harder if you were an elder. All the baggage in your mind. I think that most men on the board have tried really hard to treat women equally. It comes out in the posts and in the attitude; for the most part. There will always be people who won't give up old attitudes; at least they are out and trying.
My wife made more money than me, and she let me know it every opportunity she got. It put her in a position of power in our relationship. I lived the experience, I would say that you lose a lot of respect in most womens eyes, if they make more money than their spouse.
I do know a couple of women who earn more than their husbands; while they don't use it to their advantage, the men seem to have more problem with it. One couple is in their 50's. She is a realtor and earns much more than the husband who is her assistant. Someone at the office pointed out to her that it was sad that her husband earned less...they told her that it made him look weak. I was really angry; they are a team. She does stuff he is not good at and he does things that she does not want to do. She was really worried that her husband's psyche would be injured.
And guys, if you've never seen cattiness in action among women, all I'll say is the level of visciousness really surprised me.
I can say I've had a greater amount of hostility toward some women in the years since the nursing home job. And having a female boss now affects my blood pressure. I can feel myself tense up.
Kingpawn, everyone. I do think that women will get better as leaders as the generations pass. It will take a little longer for most/all women to realize that they are equal to men. We are different. No denying that.
As far as bosses go, I have to say I have had about 50/50 male and females over the years. The men win hands down. The last male boss was a prick. However, he was the exception. The women were catty, mean, name calling, over critical of appearance, etc. The women I have worked with all want a piece of the pie. Since many we were not raised to understand that we are equal, we get a taste of power and go crazy. (not me of course..)Some women are better at hiding their hostility towards other women than others. They want women friends, yet they don't want women bosses.
I was raised by a JW mother who told my sister and I that finding a man to take care of us was the most important thing. Then she got divorced and her story changed, when I was 13. Now, I was to become an equal and learn how to take care of myself; all men are scum and cannot be relied upon. Then the JW stuff was being told to me. I was supposed to be in subjection, yet my mother is whispering in my ear that I am equal.
As I became an adult, I took the attitude that men cannot be trusted, so if you can take advantage of one, go for it. (I mean at work or in opportunities like that) At the same time I was seeing women at work and realized that they had totally different styles than men, in the leadership area.
When I worked for my first full time employer, after college, I encountered a man who would change my attitudes totally. He was the president of our company. He was handicapped and his belief was that teamwork can overcome any differences in style. He encouraged women in all areas and promoted them at a very high rate. He encouraged training and seminars. He preached "teamwork." Never having been on any team, I was very unfamiliar with teamwork. However, it worked. As I learned that teamwork does work, leaders come out also. Good leaders who are not made bosses because they created the next best widget. The leaders I encountered at that company were strong. They took their teams to new levels. Men and women on both. In a previously male dominated field and company.
That was Nirvana for me. I have not worked anywhere else where women were appreciated as equals. All employers are trying on the surface, however, when it comes down to it, not many of us have the proper background to become leaders-yet. As young girls and women join teams at school and learn how to work with others in a team environment, I think the American workforce will beocme stronger and stronger.
It has been hard to let go of the baggage I learned as a young girl. I sometimes think men are better, than I realize that there is no reason to feel that way. That is when I get really angry at the dubs and my mother. She said one thing at home and became a JW Stepford wife when she entered the KH.
The idea that we (men and women) are different and need to understand the differences is key to believeing that we are equal. Seperate, yet equal.
