Isn't this still sexist?

Question

Isn't this phrase sexist and ageist?
"Men can't hit girls"
It really annoys me when people say this around me and when I tell them that they are being sexist they tell me "So do you want your husband hitting you" Firstly I don't want anyone hitting me, male or female and secondly domestic violence isn't always male hitting female it could be female hitting male.

Isn't it still sexist? Is there anyway we could get rid of this annoying saying and just put it "No-one should hit anyone"?

Answer 1

Yes, but woman are usually weaker than men physically, and making a special point of preventing violence is a good idea. There is too much domestic violence of men hitting women, and this sentence tries to prevent that, and that is a good thing.

Answer 2

Yes it is sexist.

Everyone has a right to defend themselves.
A man is not 'more deserving' of being hit than a woman.
If a woman is attacking a man, the man has every right to hit back.
Evil knows no sex.

"Is there anyway we could get rid of this annoying saying"
That saying is actually dissolving itself of its own accord.
It does no equate with equality.
There are less and less people believing it every day.
Violence is violence. Orchestrated by a man or a woman to a man or a woman. It makes no difference. No one deserves to be treated like that. Hitting anyone is wrong.

Answer 3

It's definitely sexist if a female hits a male in anger, or more like a double standard. No one has the right to be physically violent to another person.

Answer 4

Yes, you are right. I agree with you whole heartedly.
I actually caught myself from saying this the other day when I was babysitting for my neighbor. I just turned the statement into "It isn't nice to hit anyone, especially not your sister because she's younger than you are." But since those kids all give as good as they get, it was an easy one!
I abhor violence of any kind, and agree that we should just say that no one should hit anyone; men, women and children.

Answer 5

Yes, you're absolutely right. Are these people living in a world where only men can be hit? The only reason to ever hit anyone is in self-defence, be they male or female.

Answer 6

Besides being extremely sexist, that phrase also shows a lack of sensitivity to violence in general. Sure, men shouldn't hit girls, but men shouldn't hit women or other men or boys or dogs either. That doesn't mean that they don't, or course. And for some reason it's still socially acceptable for men to hit each other or, to some extent to hit children (assuming they're their own and they don't go too far).

I know that the phrase is meant to reflect the difference in strength between men and women, but this in itself indicates people's doubt that women can defend themselves in some way. Maybe we can't hit as hard, but that is not the only line of defense in situations where self-defense is necessary. The fact that so many brought this point up also indicates that they either condone or are desensitized to men hitting men, women hitting women and/or women hitting men. Hmm... makes you wonder?

Honestly, i'm with you, no one should hit anyone, regardless of sex, age, etc. Hitting should only be a result of self-defense.

Answer 7

try people shouldn't hit people. it is sexist but sexism has changed to the womens favor (for the most part) this saying is a great example of that, when people say men should not hit women its say well its ok for a women to hit a man, and in many situations i have seen a women hit a man and yell at him "go ahead and hit me" he don't though because he know shes is just going to call the cops once he does.

it is a double standard and thier are many between men and women, some work better for the man, some work beter for the women....fact of life

Answer 8

I was raised on this old saw "People aren't for hitting". Yes, I agree it's sexist to use gender as a reason for not hitting. The opposite then becomes tacitly ok - "he's a boy, and you're a boy, so hitting is ok".

I think what is important is not to get high and mighty about "fighting sexism", which is itself often a male-antagonizing (and 'sexist') endeavor, but about doing the right thing. Moral conduct is not gender specific.

Answer 9

It's a product of feminism, which is entirely sexist, and responsible for many of society's ills. I actually meant to respond to your youtube question now closed. I came across information showing over 200 million videos are now watched a day on youtube! This is posted on www.jawed.com/resume/. Jawed Karim is one of the three youtube founders. A little late but I recently had the same question.

Answer 10

Tch. Of course it is.

People seem to forget that most men are not Rambo. Men shouldn't hit women and women shouldn't hit men. If you hit someone else you shouldn't expect them not to hit you back. Physical aggression shouldn't be excused just because one is "weaker." That doesn't mean a wrong should be rewarded with a wrong, because both parties are then to blame.

What it does mean is that women are regarded as "equals" now and should be damn well able to take care of themselves, which includes taking care of their tempers, just like men have to. I'll be damned if I'm going to let a woman hit me (again) just because she has a vagina.

Bullshit.

Answer 11

When it comes to statements about physical aspects of women and men, it isn't sexist. Women, in general, are smaller than men, and just have less upper body strength. There are just ways in which women and men differ physically, and that doesn't mean anything about the genders mentally. Even women who are very large, are often just fat, and very weak in upper body strength. I can do more pull ups and dips than most men....but I'm WAY smaller than most men - so while I'm proud of my strength and may be stronger, for my body weight, than a lot of men, there is no WAY I'm going to be able to hold my own in a fight with MOST men. I think saying that men shouldn't hit women is basically like saying grown men who are 6'2" shouldn't fight 12 year old boys.

Of course I don't believe that anyone should hit another person at all - but you especially shouldn't hit someone smaller than you. And whoever gave me a thumbs down - I'd like you to email me and discuss WHY. I have no idea why you'd disagree with what I just said, unless you're pissed because I can do pull ups and you can't.