Do Women Have to Submit to Men? Let’s Talk History, Power & Truth

Why Are We Still Talking About Women Submitting to Men?

Magic Maker, let's talk about something that’s been showing up all over the timeline lately: the idea that women should "submit" to their husbands or male partners. From politicians making viral statements to influencers quoting the Bible, there’s been a fresh wave of chatter around this outdated concept—and it’s giving very Handmaid’s Tale meets gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss. Let’s unpack this with nuance, fire, and a whole lot of truth.

The Submission Debate—Why Now?

Recently, a senior adviser from Trump’s White House Faith Office stated that she "submits" to her husband and that "God designed" men to be the leaders of the household. This isn’t new rhetoric. It’s recycled from centuries of patriarchal structures designed to control women’s roles in society, using religious texts and social norms to keep women small. But here’s the thing: we’re in 2024, not 1024. And it's time to look deeper.

This conversation is especially frustrating when you consider the wider spiritual and historical context. If we dig into ancient traditions and spiritual systems across cultures, the Divine Feminine has always held immense power. From Isis in Egypt to Shakti in India, the feminine has been honored as the source of life, creation, and intuition. Submission? That wasn’t the message.

Let’s Talk About Divine Union, Not Domination

Let’s be real—relationships aren’t corporations. But if we had to make the comparison, they’d thrive most like successful companies do: when leadership is based on respect, collaboration, and playing to each person’s strengths. The best CEOs don’t demand submission; they empower their teams to shine, to speak up, and to contribute their genius.

So why do we celebrate dynamic leadership in business, but cling to rigid, hierarchical roles in relationships?

This belief that women should suppress their voices, skills, and autonomy in the name of divine order is not spiritual. It’s insecure. And it has nothing to do with authentic masculinity. A truly confident, divine masculine presence doesn’t need submission. He creates a container of safety, respect, and freedom for the feminine to expand. That’s leadership.

A Brief (and Necessary) History Lesson

There’s a reason women historically took on more domestic roles—and it wasn’t because they were less capable.

Let’s break it down:

• For centuries, average life expectancy was 30-40 years.

• To maintain population, women needed to have 6–8 pregnancies, but due to high infant mortality, maybe only 3 or 4 children survived to adulthood.

• Women weren’t barefoot in the kitchen because they weren’t skilled—they were literally keeping humanity alive with their bodies, nursing, birthing, and protecting the next generation.

Meanwhile, men hunted and did the physical labor because someone had to. It wasn’t about superiority—it was about practicality. And as we advanced technologically (think refrigeration, bottle feeding, birth control, better healthcare), women gained the space to explore all their other gifts: intellectual, emotional, creative, and spiritual.

To suggest that women are less capable, less visionary, or should remain small in today’s world is to completely ignore both history and present-day reality.

Why This Conversation is Dangerous

Let’s go deeper. These ideas don’t just perpetuate inequality—they create actual harm:

• Economically: Women are encouraged to give up careers and independence, which makes them more vulnerable to financial abuse or long-term instability.

• Emotionally: Being told your role is to be silent or deferential can kill your self-worth.

• Spiritually: It contradicts the idea of free will and divine sovereignty.

This is why the “submit to your man” narrative has no place in spiritually aligned partnerships. It’s not about power over—it’s about power with.

So What Should Relationships Look Like?

Healthy partnerships are rooted in mutual respect, shared values, emotional intelligence, and yes—leadership from both sides. Sometimes one partner leads in one area while the other supports, and vice versa. That’s divine polarity. That’s balance.

The masculine holds the structure; the feminine brings the flow. Both are needed. Both are sacred. When one is forced to shrink, the whole union suffers.

Some Spiritual Food for Thought:

• The Bible Verse Misuse: Ephesians 5:22 says "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord." But read further and you’ll see it also says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." That’s sacrificial love, not control. And spiritually speaking, Christ didn’t demand submission—he led through compassion, service, and divine purpose.

• Divine Feminine Teachings: Whether you follow astrology, mythology, or intuitive practices, feminine energy is never about being silent or passive. It’s about receptivity, creation, emotional intelligence, and spiritual depth.

• Energetics of True Leadership: You don’t lead by dominating. You lead by listening, guiding, and empowering. That applies to business, love, and life.

A Call to Empowerment

To the women out there wondering where you fit into this world:

• You are not too much.

• You are not meant to be small.

• You were never meant to submit.

You were meant to rise.

You are here to co-create, to expand, to shape the future with your magic, intuition, intelligence, and power. Don’t let a misguided ideology built on fear and control rob you of that.

Want to go deeper?

• Try a journal prompt: Where have I been shrinking to make someone else feel bigger?

• Light a red or orange candle to connect with your sacral and root chakras—your centers of power, boundaries, and self-worth.

• Book an astrology reading to explore your own divine masculine/feminine blueprint.