ABSTRACT
The subordination of women in American society is supported by the weight of long religious tradition. In an ancient morning prayer still in use, Orthodox Jewish men say, “Praised be God that he has not created me a Gentile; praised be God that he has not created me a woman; praised be God that he has not created me an ignorant man.” Today many Christians have trouble with Paul’s statement to women that they should “obey” their husbands (Ephesians 5:21), and some try to soften it by using alternative translations. In the vows of a commonly used Christian marriage ceremony ministers once asked the bride to promise to “obey” her husband. Currently those vows are usually modified so that the woman and the man make the same promises of love, comfort, honor, and fidelity. In that same ceremony the minister asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” and the bride’s father usually responds, “I do.” Even when her father responds, “Her mother and I do,” she is nevertheless handed over to the groom. Not for a long time, of course, have women really been regarded as the property of men, and not for a long time have wives really been expected to obey their husbands. As yet, however, their status falls far short of full equality.
