Head Coverings as a Sign of Submission

This topic came up in chat.  As an outsider looking in, I find the whole "throw a napkin on your head, quick" thing ludicrous at best.  It seems a lot of women resent the practice as humiliating and degrading. 

Syn covered some of the rules around head covering under  New Article, Head Coverings for Women.  I found a good article on the topic by mainstream Christianity here. 

I am curious why it is humiliating for a JW woman, well accepted by Jewish men?  Is it perhaps because the jewish practice is definitely showing reverence to God, and for the JW woman submission to any man?  For instance, Torah Teacher Ariel ben-Lyman HaNaviy writes a thorough article on the subject here. Personally, I do not feel degraded by an activity unless I chose to accept other's opinions on the matter.  For instance, I am proud of every job I have ever done, including my six month stint as a cleaning lady.  I am VERY good at bathrooms and shining taps.

I have toyed with the idea of messing with Jehovah's Witnesses over the whole head covering thing.

1. Should worldly women cover their heads when JW's come to their door?
2. Would any item do as head covering?
3. What about a tea cosy?
4. Would a living thing count, say a frog?
5. If I wore a frog on my head the next time JW's came to my door, would they recognize my attempt at reverence?

Are there any xJW women here that enjoyed the practice?  If so, why?  If you did find it humiliating, what was it exactly that made you feel like that?  Was it because you were giving reverence to people who clearly did not deserve it?  Or was it something else?

 

Jgnat, good topic,  I have always wondered about this, too?

I remember one occasion where I was at a devout JW's house and us ladies (3 adults, 1 child) were sitting around the table getting ready to eat.  We were about to pray when one of the ladies saw her JW elder hubby walk in, she quickly grabbed the damp dish towel on the table and gave the prayer, her hair dripping wet.  I remember then thinking how stupid and asinine that was, but kept quiet because I didn't want to seem contrary.  But my face could not hide my feelings.  You could have flown a 747 through the gapping hole in my mouth as it dropped in shear disgust.

Edited by - TresHappy on 20 November 2002 15:57:35

Jgnat,

 

  Um, you know what I said in chat... lol.   I am sure the eldership would approve b/c at least her head was covered when doing it to the K.H..    (_)_)

 

Xandria

There were times I wore a head covering.  I did not feel humiliated. At the time I thought it was what God required so it was fine with me.

It is after coming to a realization that the head covering requirements in the Bible were there because of the times in which the Bible was written not because it was a permanent divine injunction that I was then freed from something which is a symbolic barrier between a woman and God.  No man stands between God and woman.  The Bible is a time bound document which has many good things and many other things which were practiced at the time it was written but not necessarily to be practiced for all time.  Just as the Law was eventually abolished so also there are things in the NT which do not have application to our times.  The head covering requirements are imo one of these.

IW

Women used to be required to wear hats or scarves in church.  As that custom changed, it was more of a challenge.  That was what my grandma says.  Women tended to wear hats up through the 1950's.  The 60's was more than a sexual freedom area.  Hats went by the wayside too.

I just avoided the situation as much as possible.

Blondie

Concerned Mama - from the outside, the dripping dishtowels sure does look weird, doesn't it?  By the way, I let my hotmail account expire, but it is up and running again.  I think it is time I came out of hiding and had a face-to-face with you some time, if you are up to it.  A mini-apostafest in BRRREdmonton.

Tres Happy, .  Island Woman, I think you are dead on with the Bible Customs thought.  I often ask my honey (when he gets on his first century Christian soapbox) why the witnesses don't wear sandals door to door.  How else are they gonna shake the sand out?  Xandria, are we talking about the same chat experience?  My memory has holes like swiss cheese.  Blondie - I am curious about your avoidance technique.  Did you run out of the room when an Elder showed up?  A friend told me in the UK women still wear their bonnets to church.  A more conservative bunch?

 

A sign of submission indeed...

   

*L*...sorry couldn't resist...I do remember my mom having to direct the discussion and prayer before field service....w/the scarf on the head...I probably assumed she was cold or something..*LOL*...Rather idiotic notion and totally chauvanist IMO, and so is not allowing women to serve on the BOE or GB.  It might be a very different world if women were elders or CO's DO's.

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

ROTFL, Valis.  I don't think this is what Paul had in mind...of course, that is only my opinion...

Jgnat:

You heard my opinion in chat.  <grin>  It's humiliating and disgusting.  No human being should ever be required to show submission to another human being by doing such a despicable thing as putting a doily on their heads.    In a perfect world, every human will be treated with respect and reverence.  We are *all* made in God's image, including women.  Therefore, God has a feminine side, too.  Do you think he wears *half* a doily on his head?  <grins again>

You're right: it is ludicrous and disrespectful to the female component of humanity to have to put a doily on their head to show submission.  So.. when a baptized female publisher (qualified in prayer) is out on a study with a male unbaptized publisher, to say the prayer she has to wear a doily to qualify herself to pray for the unqualified?  C'mon...

I remember having to wear some stupid paper towel or something on my head to say the prayer in front of my four charmingly disreputable brothers.  They got a big kick outta that and teased me, as the big sister, for days... regardless of the fact that I had raised them.  It only shows the males in that Society that women are not an "equal" vessel, but one to be treated with disdain.

CG

jgnat,

Sounds like fun.  I'll send you an e mail.  Kinda funny, two non- JWs having the first Edmonton apostafest.

Hum it must of been before you came in then.. we were joking. An I said, " Well why not moon the K.H. ?  I am sure as long as we wear head coverings the Elders wouldn't mind. "   or something close to that..don't remember exact wording.

I think it would definately make it clear what we think of the head covering issues.

 

(_)x)  X marks the spot.  < as the car drives by... the elders are shocked by the bareness of it all. Along with the sassy slogans written on all the tan lines and whiteness.

 

X.

Edited by - xandria on 20 November 2002 19:31:42

great post, like so many other things we just did it cause we sincerely believeed it was THE WILL OF JEHOVAH

Jgnat

I meant I avoid having to wear headcoverings by:

1.  Always make sure some other sister does it at meetings for field service (I am adamant)

2.  Always make sure the brother I take on a study is not on restrictions and conducts the study and gives the prayers

I have rarely had to wear a headcovering in the 50 years I have been a JW because I adhere to the above.

Using the scriptures, I am more than happy to tactfully adjust any brother who says women are inferior or weak.  

I can fix cars and embroider, I can do lawn work and cook, I can race motorcycles and diaper a baby (but not at the same time), I can rewire a house, fix a plugged sink, build a house, clean a house.  I hope the pattern is clear.  I have broad training and was taught that being a woman was not a barrier unless I made it one.

Not at the KH, but in my secular work, I have given many public talks, trained people in seminars, and counseled people.

I'm sure I am not unique among women.  Having escaped my family of abuse, I am not likely to allow additional abuse into my under the guise of scriptural guidance.  I just keep asking, show me the scriptures, brothers.   

Blondie

Great reply, Blondie.  I like how you stick to your guns with confidence.  Xandria, thanks for clearing that up.  Country Girl, I am glad you had your say (to a bigger audience this time).

Edited by - jgnat on 20 November 2002 23:8:51

 

 

Amazing... the WTS actually presumes to control whether or not a person can pray.

Y'all can just call me the Head Coverings Guy!

Nice writeup JGNat...

 

Humiliating and degrading........

Yeah, that pretty much describes the whole JW experience for any woman (some are just to blind to see)

IMO they can take their napkins and dish rags and shove um where the sun don't shine!

Sunny

Politics Schmolitics.

I explained it chat -when we were dicussing this.I used to put a tea cosy on my head in front of my hubby( not a JW) he would sit & laugh & say "you stupid bugger" ( Hey if your up there Frank you were right) But  when I had a study with one woman - she said "My sister is a JW & you pray with bread on your head dont you"? I explained NOT!

But years later her Father died & I went to the funeral met the "sister" who prayed with bread on the head- I asked why she does this.

She went VERY RED!!! " Oh no! "she said -" I had all the family over for supper  3 fleshly brothers 2 fleshly sisters.& they knew I pray -so they said Pray for us girl, When they all lowered there heads

I put a slice of bread ( the nearest thing) on my head & prayed ....I guess someone peeked...."

"Oh the gift that God has give us -to see ourselves as others see us"

We are now receiving that gift guys..........I can visulize God having a real Guffaw at our submission......