Malleus
Orange Belt
Hopefully a polarising topic, and an apt one for a martial arts forum.
I am not talking about spousal abuse (though it’s still worth noting that there are actually a growing number of men who are the victims of spousal abuse), but rather the following hypothetical situation: An angry woman/ group of women attacks you (I’m assuming you’re a man, apologies to female readers!) on the street for a slight, real or perceived. Do you hit back?
Some hard facts:
1) On average, a woman will be lighter than a man, resulting in decreased striking power compared with a male antagonist. (25 year old white male, 50th percentile= 76kgs : 25 year old white female, 50th percentile= 61kgs. http://www.halls.md/chart/men-weight-w.htm and http://www.halls.md/chart/women-weight-w.htm respectively)
2) On average, a woman will have significantly less muscle mass than a man, particularly notable in the upper body. This corresponds with less strength against a weight matched opponent, much less one with an average 15kg advantage. ( http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/1/81 )
3) Testosterone is present in far greater levels in men than women, and has been positively linked to aggression, although it is by no means the only factor influencing combative behaviour. (http://www.med.mcgill.ca/mjm/v06n01/v06p032/v06p032.pdf)
From these three basic facts, it is obvious that on average, a man is physiologically better built for a combat situation. Of course, on average is an important qualifier. There are many instances where average values will go out the window and the physiological advantage will go towards the woman: a crude image would be to imagine a large, muscular woman fighting a smaller, lighter, less fit male.
In addition, there is of course the mental aspect to fighting, and the skillsets acquired by both combatants. Testosterone may increase ones predelictions towards violence, but as Ms. Simpson notes in the third link provided, it is far and away from being the only factor influencing aggression. Of course, training in martial arts would hopefully be a benefit to a fighter, therefore there’s a further possibility that the woman aggressor may be even more dangerous.
It seems self-evident, to me at least, that there’s a huge social taboo against hitting a woman, no matter the circumstances. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. If you hit a woman, even in self defence, you’ve broken a major social code. Real men do not hit women. And god forbid that you get beaten up by a woman, for despite political correctness, there’s still a sense of ignomy and stigma attached.
A (slightly melodramatic) example of the male's psyche follows:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz125/malleus10/preachercopy.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz125/malleus10/preacher2.jpg
So, how would you feel trading blows with a woman in a self defence situation? And how does the prospect of engaging in heavy sparring with a female martial artist strike you? Ladies, of course, feel free to weigh in from your perspective. I'm assuming you wouldn't have the same moral objections to hitting a woman as men would, but I may be wrong.
Take care,
Malleus.
I am not talking about spousal abuse (though it’s still worth noting that there are actually a growing number of men who are the victims of spousal abuse), but rather the following hypothetical situation: An angry woman/ group of women attacks you (I’m assuming you’re a man, apologies to female readers!) on the street for a slight, real or perceived. Do you hit back?
Some hard facts:
1) On average, a woman will be lighter than a man, resulting in decreased striking power compared with a male antagonist. (25 year old white male, 50th percentile= 76kgs : 25 year old white female, 50th percentile= 61kgs. http://www.halls.md/chart/men-weight-w.htm and http://www.halls.md/chart/women-weight-w.htm respectively)
2) On average, a woman will have significantly less muscle mass than a man, particularly notable in the upper body. This corresponds with less strength against a weight matched opponent, much less one with an average 15kg advantage. ( http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/1/81 )
3) Testosterone is present in far greater levels in men than women, and has been positively linked to aggression, although it is by no means the only factor influencing combative behaviour. (http://www.med.mcgill.ca/mjm/v06n01/v06p032/v06p032.pdf)
From these three basic facts, it is obvious that on average, a man is physiologically better built for a combat situation. Of course, on average is an important qualifier. There are many instances where average values will go out the window and the physiological advantage will go towards the woman: a crude image would be to imagine a large, muscular woman fighting a smaller, lighter, less fit male.
In addition, there is of course the mental aspect to fighting, and the skillsets acquired by both combatants. Testosterone may increase ones predelictions towards violence, but as Ms. Simpson notes in the third link provided, it is far and away from being the only factor influencing aggression. Of course, training in martial arts would hopefully be a benefit to a fighter, therefore there’s a further possibility that the woman aggressor may be even more dangerous.
It seems self-evident, to me at least, that there’s a huge social taboo against hitting a woman, no matter the circumstances. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. If you hit a woman, even in self defence, you’ve broken a major social code. Real men do not hit women. And god forbid that you get beaten up by a woman, for despite political correctness, there’s still a sense of ignomy and stigma attached.
A (slightly melodramatic) example of the male's psyche follows:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz125/malleus10/preachercopy.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz125/malleus10/preacher2.jpg
So, how would you feel trading blows with a woman in a self defence situation? And how does the prospect of engaging in heavy sparring with a female martial artist strike you? Ladies, of course, feel free to weigh in from your perspective. I'm assuming you wouldn't have the same moral objections to hitting a woman as men would, but I may be wrong.
Take care,
Malleus.
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