What Importance Do Women Play In the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?

LaToya Camille Brooks
May 5, 2010
Sociology of Religion
SOC4430

Introduction
This will be an academic debate paper. The subject is focusing on the role of women inside The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; or what is publicly known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Using academic journals from sociological and religious perspectives, I will discuss the issue on two sides. The first side will argue the truth in the stereotypes that are gullible in a discouraged society. The other side of the issue will reflect their role in Christianity and their participation in society. Some information may be considered outdated, but it adjusts the points made in this debate.
The Stereotypes
The main label that began all labels about women is not only coming from The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or WBTS, but other Christian denominations as well. All over, women are to be submissive to their husbands; as for the men are closer to Jehovah, another name for God. This has been established since the beginning of mankind according to biblical history. Moving into giving satisfaction to Jesus, the Holy Scriptures translates Ephesians as: Be in subjection to one another in fear of Christ. Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is head of his wife as the Christ also is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body. In fact, as the congregation is in subjection to the Christ, so let wives also be to their husbands in everything. -Ephesians 5:21-24
This says a lot on how women should be viewed. The women in the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society are considered inferior to men and male children; and in no way should stand against men on any status. Singelenberg (1992) argued that for a marriage to thrive under the