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Race, women and health · Claim record

The Watchtower of 15 March 1964 told women that in the congregation a sister 'would not be found debating with brothers or publicly criticizing them', and that where a man gave a wrong answer at a meeting she might quote the printed paragraph but 'neither by her comment nor by her tone of voice would she be critical of the brother's answer'. It added that it would be better for the conductor to call on other men instead, to avoid embarrassment.

Claim ID claim-attitudes-1964-woman-not-to-correct-a-manConcerns 15 March 1964Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 March 1964 Verified

The Watchtower of 15 March 1964 told women that in the congregation a sister 'would not be found debating with brothers or publicly criticizing them', and that where a man gave a wrong answer at a meeting she might quote the printed paragraph but 'neither by her comment nor by her tone of voice would she be critical of the brother's answer'. It added that it would be better for the conductor to call on other men instead, to avoid embarrassment. The Watchtower, 15 March 1964

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The same article stated that women share the heavenly hope equally with men, though 'not as women, but as glorious spirit creatures'. The 2024 Watchtower tells elders to invite women's suggestions and to listen carefully when they speak.

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “The Privileges of the Christian Woman”

15 March 1964 · pp.178-183 · pars. 11-12 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“Where a wrong comment is offered by a male person in the audience, during the Watchtower study for example, this does not require the sister if called on to follow along and make her comment agree with the incorrect thought given. But neither by her comment nor by her tone of voice would she be critical of the brother's answer.”

The article sets out what a woman may and may not do in the congregation. It explains that 'keep silent in the congregations' does not mean total silence, but that 'a sister would not be found debating with brothers or publicly criticizing them, either at a meeting or to other members of the congregation at other times, nor would she exercise authority over the brothers as a teacher or instructor'. It adds that if other mature men are present it would be better for the conductor to call on them instead, and 'thus avoid any possible embarrassment'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. The full article was fetched from the Watchtower Online Library on 19 September 2026 and read. The quoted paragraph 12 falls between the library's page markers for pages 181 and 182, so it is on p. 181. The citation code inside the document reads 'w64 3/15 pp. 178-183'.

Notes. The same article states that 'no woman could serve as a Levite priest', that women who share the heavenly hope do so in a way that 'would not be as women, but as glorious spirit creatures in the heavens', and that God 'takes into account the sex distinction as to service arrangements in his organization'. Earlier paragraphs describe the wife's role largely in terms of the home: 'A home that is kept clean, neat and orderly is usually a testimony to the fact that here lives a capable wife.'

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-wom-w-1964-0315-privileges-christian-woman

Claim page Correct or update

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-attitudes-1964-woman-not-to-correct-a-man/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.