Men have a responsibility to protect women. Agree or Disagree?

Question

For me, what a man should take from feminism is that the duty is not just to protect women from the mugger or rapist hiding in the bushes, but from the abusive spouse or partner, and from those who would seek to deprive them of educational and professional opportunities and control over their own bodies.

Listening to what women have to say means being better informed out the sorts of protections they want and need, rather than assuming on your own what's best for them.

I am sure that some will call this protectiveness "sexist" while others will try to say that, with social changes pursued by feminism, women have forfeited the right to such protection.

But as far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter society says, it doesn't matter if it's appreciated or praised, any decent man should feel protective of women and should act accordingly.

I never suggested that it wasn't primarily other men from who women needed protection. In fact, my examples suggested the contrary.

66666, certainly I would. Although I admit, I'd have to be very seriously injured (I've been in an abusive relationship before). And I wouldn't feel emasculated if the detective handling the case was a woman like Det. Olivia Benson rather than a male detective.

I'm not saying women can't be protectors. Nor that all women need protection. Only that men need to renew and cultivate their sense of protectiveness.

Serin, you make a fair point about intervening in spousal abuse. In the past, I have called the police and later provided the woman with phone numbers of women's shelters and a feminist attorney my mother knows.

Modest

I think I'm safe.

I like Hoff Summers. I find Farrell intellectually lightweight and rather creepy.

One can agree with feminists on many ethical, legislative, and policy questions, while considering much academic feminist writings to be demagogic, pseudo-intellectual, fraudulent tripe.

Nadiv

Good points.

Stephen Hawking does not have a moral duty as a man to try to intervene when he sees a woman being attacked. he does have a duty to notify the appropriate authorities. And to support legislation and organizations that exist to protect women.

Mr. realist

First of all, I am a man. And i am expressing my views on what I think a man's responsibilities ought to be. Each man decides for himself (not by women -feminist or traditionalist - telling him) what being a man means to him. I am just expressing my view and inviting others.

Answer 1

I am from the old school, when it was a man's responsibility to protect their family and others." Serin" is right do not get involved in a domestic battle call the police, as the person you want to protect will turn on you also. I have many times intervened in a fight when the person (male) was outnumber or seriously hurt.
I grew up in a home that a woman that I loved more than any other in this world was subjected to abuse, may I say we always fought back, When I was 15, I put a stop to the abuse by giving my stepfather a taste of his own actions. I have been accused of discriminating between freedom for my sons ,more than my daughter. Yes I did , I knew my sons could take care of them selves and I was more protective of my daughter,and did not allow her the same freedom.

I may have been wrong but I never regretted it.

Answer 2

I disagree. Every individual (man or woman) is responsible for her/his own protection, particularly the emotional and mental. I understand supporting others in a cause or leaving an abusive relationship etc. but I don't see it as anybody else's responsibility to protect them. Only children need protection. This is not to be confused with support. If I'm laying helplessly on the street and needing help, I would need assistance, but this wouldn't count as protection.

In relationships, there is mutual protection. I protected my ex husband in many areas, while he protected me in others---it was more of a team effort, rather than duty.

Answer 3

to a point, i think you may be on to something there. it takes a gender role expectation of men and translates it into something that is beneficial to everyone. however, i would argue that there is no reason for only men to be protectors and only women be the protected, nor should this protection occur because it is a "male" duty to protect females. I feel it need to be more inclusive than that. I feel that as human beings we all have the responsibility to protect the rights of people who may not have all of the privileges that we do simply because they are people and as such deserve equal treatment. so yes, I agree within the context that we all have a responsibiltiy to others that comes along with having rights.

very well said by the way.

Answer 4

it seems that feminist like to brag that women can do anything that men can do, why do they need protection by us?

Actually, there are a lot of laws protecting women only such as the Violence Against Women Act although half the victims of domestic abuse are men. My own son was assaulted by a woman but a female judge would not give him an order of protection against her saying "men do not need protection" If he had defended himself in any way, he would have been arrested. Nothing was done to her.

I also wonder what you mean by "deprive them of educational and professional opportunities and control over their own bodies"

We have affirmative action for women and most of those in college now are women so how are they being deprived? Oh...are they being deprived of control over their own body when they can abort a baby even at the last moment? In several recent cases where a fully developed baby was found dead, police could no nothing about it if the baby was killed even moments before birth. There had to be prove it took a breath to indicate birth. Men however do not have any choice. A woman can claim he is the father and make sure he does not get the claim until after it is too late to contest it and make him pay for a couple of decades. Or she can abort a baby that he wants.

In short. maybe it is men that need to protection.....

Answer 5

Marriage in Islam is intended to protect the chastity of men and women alike, therefore it is the woman’s duty to respond to her husband’s requests for sexual relations. She should not give silly excuses and try to avoid it. FOrgive me but if this statement falls then all others are irrelevent for they claim it as authority. Do you not see a basic problem with the preceding statement?

Answer 6

A responsibility to protect means a responsibility to make oneself capable of protecting. Many men will actually not be hugely strong or have any specific knowledge of fighting. Most people will be afraid to get into a fight and will shy away from them.

A responsibility to protect? No, not a responsibility. A simple observation of police reports will show many men not able to defend themselves let alone others. It is not right to force people into such actions by proclaiming they have such responsibilities by a virtue of the sex of the body they were born into.

The idea of protecting people requires the assertiveness of aggressiveness to act out as such. It is not a responsibility to act out as such with such negative beliefs.

Answer 7

I think everyone has the responsibility to protect every other person and animals as well. Men and women should both know how to defend against a rapist in the bushes.

I think saying it is purely a man's responsibility to protect women is in fact sexist. There are times when men need defending and there are times when women can defend themselves perfectly fine.

Answer 8

I suppose I am not a decent man, for I disagree. I have a responsibility to protect my family, loved ones, and friends - male or female. I have no responsibility, however, to strange women I've never met.

Besides, ask any officer what happens when you get in between two spouses going (sometimes literally) tooth and nail at each other. Oftentimes they'll BOTH turn on the officer. The lesson is to not get involved in affairs that do not concern you. By all means, phone the police if a crime is in progress. Otherwise, go about your business.

Answer 9

Well, this is one of those wanting to have your cake and eat it too propositions. Women certainly like their equality these days but many of them still want to be protected. What this overlooks is the fact that, throughout human history, most of women's inequality and oppression has been the result of their need for a male protector. So, each woman should decide for herself whether she wants equality or protection.

EDIT: As for this obnoxious idea being posted that EVERYBODY has some supposed obligation to be a protector to EVERYBODY ELSE, that is every bit as much nonsense as the thread starter's notion that MEN have some sort of obligation to be protectors to WOMEN. EVERYBODY needs to learn to protect THEMSELVES. Absent any specific contract to become someone else's protector, NOBODY has even the slightest obligation to protect ANYBODY ELSE except their minor offspring and other legal dependents.

EDIT2: And in respect to this one exception (PARENTS AND GUARDIANS extending their legal protection to their CHILDREN AND DEPENDENTS), that is not an obligation forced on anybody, as one has the legal right to take certain action to avoid becoming a parent or guardian if you are not one already so, conversely, if you are a parent or guardian that is a freely chosen obligation.

Answer 10

Disagree, strongly, in many ways.
first of all, because someone is a woman does not mean the society automatically owes her protection. if she is strong on her own, great. then no need.
now women who need protection, OK. but why is it a man's job specifically to protect said woman? what about other women as well as men? why does gender matter in this case?
I believe it is a responsibility for both capable men and women to protect those in need of it, despite the gender. society is slowly starting to break away from the 'strong, buff, man defender' and 'weak helpless woman' ideas of gender. things are being flipped.