Again, what kind of strange rules and teachings regarding women?
Sorry, didn't mean to sound quite so dramatic.
Well they're a fundamentalist sect and as such believe that women are inferior to men. They bring out the whole "subjection" issue, in that a woman is in subjection to her husband. Women are taught to be submissive, meek and obedient at all times. If not, she will be talked to by the elders of the congregation and the husband will be as well. An old friend of mine was lectured (and threatened with judicial action too) by his elders after he was laid off. He had not found work in several months but his wife was employed. He was "encouraged" (read: ordered) to take any job but get employed ASAP as it was a sign of poor headship for him to be unemployed while his wife worked. So he took a janitorial job, and ended up making less than he was on unemployment.
They teach that divorce is to be avoided at all costs. So a woman is put under heavy pressure to stay in an abusive marriage. I know of several women who were being beaten daily but told that Jehovah would disapprove of them if they left the husband.
The Witnesses also teach that a woman may not pray to Jehovah (God) while in the presence of a man. They even go so far as believing that women are so inferior before God that when they meet for field service (the term JWs use for their door to door ministry) and there are only women present, they must cover their head while giving prayer. As a child I saw one woman use a diaper as a head covering!
The Witnesses' most harmful teaching is regarding rape. They teach that unless a woman screams before she is raped, she has committed a consensual sexual act. What happens then is the rape victim is brought before a church judicial committee and grilled over every detail (even down to what sort of underwear she wore, if she had an orgasm and so on). If she did not scream she has committed adultery or fornication and must repent for her sin. If she does not, she is subject to being disfellowshipped (excommunicated) and then subject to being shunned by everyone, family included, in the entire religion. By the way, this rule does not apply to male rape victims, only women.
This is just a snapshot idea of women's role in Jehovah's Witnesses and it's all I can think of right off the bat. I'm sure some women on this board can tell other stories. It is not an easy life and if you are a professional I can tell you that if you became a Witness, you would be "encouraged" to quit your career.
Hope this helps.
Chris
