In the New Testament, there are scriptures that men have used to keep women in the subservient role. Men have argued that women cannot be in any leadership positions in the church because of the charge by the Apostle Paul that women should remain quiet in the church. That is another misinterpretation of scripture. Neither women nor men are perfect by themselves. They both have strengths and weaknesses, which is why they need each other. One personality trait of most women is that their minds are very active and they tend to talk more than most men.

Women are more social creatures. The early church obviously had a problem with the women socializing a bit too much, so the Apostle Paul felt that he had to address this. Therefore, he told them to be quiet while church was taking place. That's all there is to this doctrine, yet male dominated religion has taken this scripture, as well as others that have been misinterpreted, to push down and rule women.

Ephesians 5:24 is another passage in scripture that men have used to get women to be in subjection to them. “But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.”

The phrase “in everything” was added by the English translators of the Bible in an obvious attempt to drive home their patriarchal viewpoint.

Men could thus point to that phrase “in everything” and rule over women in every area of life. This is another misinterpretation of scripture. This passage is talking about the man being the Spiritual covering of the woman. It has nothing to do with a wife obeying a husband in earthly things but is talking about the woman submitting to the Christ nature in her husband. It was the husband's responsibility to pray for his wife and family and to cover them with prayer.

Often when this doctrine is preached, the scripture right before this passage (Ephesians 5:21) is omitted, which states that the husband and the wife should submit one to another. In other words, the wife should submit to the spiritual covering of the husband but the husband may submit to the wife in other areas, if they so choose. Nowhere in scripture is the act of a man submitting to a woman in the bedroom or in the natural things in life, forbidden by God. As a matter of fact, when one views how woman was created to help man from a position of authority, it is obvious that the woman is better equipped to rule the marriage. The scripture just after this passage (Ephesians 5:25-28) tells men that they need to love their wives like Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. In other words, husbands should be willing to sacrifice for their wives. Sacrifice is the ultimate form of submission. Religious men are quick to quote Ephesians 5:22-24 but they eagerly omit Ephesians 5:21 and 5:25-28.