Why is it socially acceptable for women to hit men and not men to hit women?

Question

We live in a society in which we are told that women and men are equal. If this is so, why is it socially acceptable that women could hit men and not vice-versa? If you think about it, this law has an allegorical meaning in it that states that women are beneath men and needs this social law. What do you think? Is this social law sexist?

Answer 1

Feminism perpuates and promotes the social acceptability of violence against men by downplaying or even denying its existence.

It is certainly not a problem. So much so that feminists (e.g. NOW) lobbied to actually "define" domestic violence as men as the abusers and women as the victims.

Go to any feminist website (e.g. NOW.org) and read their view of the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act).

Then, actually read VAWA, or at least browse it.

VAWA subtitle M was specifically revised at the lobbying of feminist organizations to "DEFINE" violent abusers as male and victims as female.

Check Subtitle M of the bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.03402:

Answer 2

I think that the social law as you describe it would be sexist. Many men are not really willing to report it when a woman beats them, but it does happen and is really an largely unseen but real problem. Their is satisfaction on the part of some people when a woman defends herself and strikes back, but when striking back becomes abuse then it should not be tolerated from either gender. The more society accepts that some women can be just as strong and as mean as some men, then the social acceptability should be reduced.

Answer 3

it is not socially acceptable to hit men. If this was to happen that man should reevaluate the women he is hanging around. put it this way once a woman hits you it is the same as the other side. the domination factor is at play but the women feels she controls the situation. A man has a hard time understanding why the situation happened. after being clocked he probably would try to reason with her and at that point he makes another mistake by staying in the situation. it doesn't mean the man is wrong. He just can't fix what took place. men have a horrible time trying to figure out women. if is difficult finding the right one. both needs to experience life more, just not with each other

Answer 4

It's obviously the way women/girls are brought up. They're clinging to an old sexist tradition that benefits them. Even if men are generally stronger and could inflict more damage, if they don't, they don't. What if the woman was bigger, say a 200lb woman beating on a 130lb man. I'd like to see the day were people tell her, "You never hit a PERSON who's WEAKER then you!". Now if that guy were to hit her back we all know what everyone would say, "You never hit a GIRL" So the issue here has NOTHING to do with the idea most men are stronger.

Answer 5

It is not socially acceptable for a person man or woman to assault anyone. I don't know why this generalization persists. Striking out whether you are male or female is an act of aggression and should never be permitted under any circumstance unless one feels that their life is at stake. Any person that hits another in a relationship should be charged with domestic abuse.

Answer 6

Well there are apples, oranges, peaches, and bananas, mixed up here. First, it is absurd that men and women be considered equal. THere are 50 ways they differ, may of which are quite pleasant. SEcondly, the law IS unfair. Third, law or not, the relationship-ending effect of a woman hitting a man is just as pronounced as a man hitting a woman - whether either of them realize it at the time or not. No hitting.

Also, and just for fun, it is technically battery for a woman to hit a man and it is a criminal offense, for which you could call the police and have her arrested.

Answer 7

Today's society is acknowledging the fact that it is never okay to harm another person, whether the perpetrator is a man or a woman. The police will arrest the aggressor, which is determined based on the evidence found at the time of the investigation. I know this from experience (not proud of it either).

Answer 8

IT is absolutely sexist! This little propriety implies that a woman is innately incapable of protecting herself against a man. It likens to a Victorian mindset in which a woman is a fragile commodity that needs to be protected. I agree with you 100% that this law is sexist - and no matter what some would argue, it is not benificial to women. It's dehumanizing and patronizing ... and it threatens female autonomy. The unspoken 'law' implies that a woman is no judge of her own physical/emotional capability and that she needs a man to protect her by abstaining from physical conflict with her. Of course, many on here have asserted that the realm of physical conflict is a 'man's place', but that is utterly unfounded in anything but sexist ideology ... violence is a part of life - it perpetuates evolution (even social evolution for humans)- and women are no less inclined to violent/self-preserving behavior than are men.
It is less socially acceptable for men to hit women than for women to hit men because our society is still operating under the delusion that women are weak, incapable and passive. Anyone who doesn't see the patronization implicit in the 'don't hit girls' rule is blind.

Answer 9

It is very sexist. As a matter of fact women hitting men is not only acceptable but it is considered comedic. Whenever a woman hits a man he must have deserved it.

Men being beaten by women is quite common and women start a little more than half of physical domestic altercations. A man's physical strength can't help them for two reasons. One women usually use weapons and two any physical response will get him thrown in jail as she can easily play the victim.

Answer 10

seems like the implication is that men are stronger, therefore can do more damage if they are the ones hitting, and can take more punishment if they are the ones being hit. this is wrong on so many fronts there isn't enough space to type the explanation. if we teach our kids that any hitting is wrong, why does any hitting become acceptable as adults? i don't believe this "social law" exists or is acceptable in anyone's book, unless a 12 pak of beer is consumed in 15 minutes and common sense is thrown out the window.