THE DUDE SAID:
“Would you mind if your daughter or niece (assuming you had one) wanted to get involved in martial arts.”
Of course, that’s not the issue. I don’t have a problem with a woman who takes martial arts. That’s good self-defense. I believe in self-defense.
Can a woman with martial arts training beat up a man without martial arts training? I’m no expert, but it clearly confers an advantage which she wouldn’t otherwise enjoy. Likewise, I have no problem with a woman who owes a gun to protect herself.
But, as you recall, I framed the issue in terms of Hollywood superheroines. Can a woman with martial arts training beat up a man with martial arts training?
Hollywood begins with a premise of equality. This isn’t based on empirical evidence. This is based on its a priori ideological commitments.
It then puts female characters in ridiculously unrealistic situations. And the audience is supposed to swallow that because we’d be male chauvinist pigs if we didn’t.
Well, I reject the coercive propaganda. Don’t lie to me, then tell me I have to swallow your lie because you’ll call be bad names if I don’t go along with the lie.
And, ironically, nothing is more sexist than feminism. If a woman feels the need to prove that she can do whatever a man can do, then she suffers from an inferiority complex.
And she’s measuring her own accomplishments by masculine standards of excellence. So there’s a self-loathing quality to the exercise.
Also, in order to “level the playing field,” feminism also tries to emasculate men. So feminism is sexist in reference to men and women alike.
“Or the military”
That’s a complicated question:
i) In principle, I don’t have a problem with women in technical support positions. Or a doctor or a nurse, &c.
ii) In some situations, technology can also compensate for physical limitations. For example, a woman can be a fighter pilot.
On the other hand, if she’s shot down, she will instantly lose her hitech compensations. In that situation, she will be at a disadvantage compared to a male soldier.
iii) I don’t think we should lower physical fitness standards to accommodate a coed military.
iv) I don’t think a mother of underage kids should leave her kids behind to do a sixth-month tour of duty.
v) A coed military introduces a sexual dynamic that undermines unit cohesion.
“Or other activities generally dominated by males?”
That’s too vague to respond to. Should a 110 lb. policewoman accompany a 240 lb. prisoner? No. He could easily overpower her.
“Or would you counsel her that it would be abnormal and advise against it?”
Too vague to answer in general.
Another thought in women in combat positions (or positions near the front line that could become combat positions).
ReplyDeleteMost men have a natural compulsion to protect the weak: in other words, in combat situations, their inclination is to take special care of the women in the unit. This could endanger their ability to handle the task at hand (combat) in their effort to keep the women safe.
I just finished "Save the Males" by Kathleen Parker - there is an excellent chapter on women in the military.