It is a fact that men and women are different on a physical level. If we weren't, there wouldn't be an issue about homosexual marriage because we'd all be of one sex. But how big of a difference is it, really? And when is it appropriate to take these physical differences into account, and when does it become discrimination? Certain professions have rigorous standards for physical strength, such as fire departments, where the ability to wrench open a water valve, or lift debris off of a co-worker isn't just a part of the job, it can be the difference between the life and death of that co-worker. If a woman comes up short on one of the physical tests meant to measure the physical needs of the job, what does it mean? That the test was unfair and that she has other physical characteristics to compensate that just aren't tested? Or does it mean that a person (male or female) who does manage to pass the test should take that spot on the team instead? When it comes to the corporate word, women are promoted far faster, but face other disadvantages such as some companies having a 'glass ceiling' and setbacks if they choose to have children and take some time out for maternity leave (even if their spouse is the one that stays home and raises them afterwards)... yet for most corporate employees, their faster promotion rates mean that they have more money, earlier, that they can put into savings, and that they will have far more money saved by retirement than male candidates. How do the differences in how male and female candidates influence the world they work in? Women fight for equal rights and protections under the law, and I personally believe that they should have them, but what about the images of the weak woman and the brutish man that negatively affect men as well? Why is it still acceptable for a woman to strike a man in western culture, but not the other way around? Why is that if a woman is physically superior to a particular man, or has a position of power over him and forces him to have sex it's nearly impossible to get a rape charge to stick? Why is it that mothers are given preference when it comes to custody of a couple's children?
Why is it that my wife gets bent after I leave the toilet seat up and then tell her "If I can put it up, you can put it down. You know, equal rights and all"? (Yeah, the swelling's coming down nicely, and I can almost see out of the righ eye now, thank you)
Who says it's ok for a woman to strike a man in western culture? I'll fight a girl just like a man if she strikes me. I'd even practice WWE wrestling moves on her.
A large segment of our population still holds to the ideal that a true man should never strike a woman, even if she strikes you first. Yet it's perfectly acceptable for a woman to slap, or even wrack a man who is simply being rude to her in the main stream media.