My mother was in an abusive marriage for ten years. She frequently went to the elders and asked for permission to leave. She was told she could only leave for adultery. The only reason for separation was if her life was in danger or he was no longer caring for her basic needs such as starving her. So they worried about her dying of starvation but she had to have an attempt on her life before the abuse was bad enough to let her leave, TEMPORARILY. When she finally had the guts to leave, she died and on her death bed agreed to reunite with her husband to make sure Jah knew she was faithful to the end. CRAP!!!!
As a result, even after I was out of the borg, I married an abusive worldly man and still followed the same JW principles about it all. Used to tell myself if I was the best wife I could be and set a good example he would realize my value and change himself. CRAP!!!! Vomit!!!! Vomit!!!!
Oh and as to the equality in the workforce. The reason we have things like The Equal Pay Act and Title VII is because things are still not fully equal. A professor once told me in relation to minority classes, including women, is that we now have ACCESS due to legislation and education but OPPORTUNITY is still not there for many because the majority of those in power are still not minority members and still don't want to lose that hold. Although things are not as outrightly discriminating and biggotted (sp?), underlying stereotypes and asuumptions still exist.
My last boss, in a company where I was the only female manager (and made not only less than the market rate for my position but 30-50% less than other male managers), once told me that he gives raises to men whether they deserve them or not because they have families to support. I had just recently before this incident spent an hour arguing with him about my raise which was only 25% the amount the man received. He wasn't even a supervisor and had been with the company fewer years than me. Plus I was a single mom and he had a wife. When we had manager meetings most of the time he did not invite me, I would find out from other managers. then when I arrived he had started without me. My input was never asked for and my assigned tasks were always secretarial. When I interjected my opinion he was always shocked and ignored my comment. If I gave a good idea he never used it until a man later gave the same suggestion. Then he accepted it without question or supporting evidence.
We have come a long way baby but there is so much more road to cover. When will we see a woman in the white house for instance?
Oh and many of those nagging wives were a result of bitterness over their unfulfilled and unimportant existence. Many of them in cases I know usually were verbally and physically abusive to their children. They hate their lives but are trapped so they lock on to someone around them that doesn't fight back. Since they can't control their own life they control others. This exists even outside the borg.
