HITTING WOMEN   BLOG

10-15-12

This morning, I heard a radio discussion about whether it's OK to hit a woman if she has hit you. Apparently, a bus driver had reason to expel a woman passenger, she resisted, hit him at least once and spit in his face. He socked her, I gather not gently. Was it acceptable to do so? The moderator a woman, thought not and the few call-ins mostly agreed with her.

One such hit a woman coming at him with a knife. If you do that to a police officer she/he will probably shoot you; it is their protocol that threats to life and limb must be countered with force. But, the man's father chastised him. He should have restrained her or taken the knife away or perhaps run. I suppose that is a good strategy for a martial arts maven. Another caller, this time a woman described how her son's girl friend began beating him and he ran out of the house and called the police … who promptly arrested him.

The unspoken argument for not hitting a woman seemed that they are the gentler sex, too fragile to get into punching it out. Certainly, if that is accurate, even if she comes at you with a knife your only legitimate option is to run, but if she is faster than you, ah, that is left unsaid. As for me, I cannot imagine turning my back on anyone with a knife in tent on maiming me, particularly because I can no longer run fast.

My first reaction to the discussion was that if attacked, it is appropriate to respond with force and knock the woman down. When my demented wife came at me with a knife I remember thinking that I might have to get rough, but the police arrived and I was spared that ugly decision.

Upon reflection, I realize that the question misses the point. First, I don't buy the notion that women are too fragile to fight; perhaps many but surely not all. Construction workers, police women, service members and many, woman who are in excellent shape. There are many cases of domestic violence in which the woman beats up the man though perhaps the men follow the never-hit-a-woman rule. So, if some women are capable of violence it is not a meaningful question.

Forget get gender. If hit, whether by a male or female and that person is young, or unskilled in fighting, or too small to do harm, hitting is absurd, restraint is appropriate. Avoiding a fight is the first order of business, but if getting away won't work then yes, I would punch hard enough to eliminate the threat.

My point is that women do not deserve special consideration. In the 1930's movies, women frequently slapped a man and he stoically accepted the blow but our perception of women, their perception of themselves has moved them closer to equality. The other night, on The Good Wife, a woman with a right cross knocked a man out. The old rules are slowly changing. I have read that some women, if a man holds a door open for them, denigrate him and sometimes even punch. Perhaps such stories are apocryphal, but even their telling makes the point. So, I won't hold a door open for a young woman, but women of a certain age expect it, I will do it for them and anticipate a smile.

So, my rule is simple: If you come at me with the intent to do harm and cannot be avoided prepare to be punched, kicked, gouged and knocked down to the best of my ability.

If you are quietly enjoying your lunch

And a woman interrupts with a punch

If you cannot restrain her

I suggest that you brain her

And crunch her with blows in a bunch.

HITTING WOMEN

10-15-12

This morning, I heard a radio discussion about whether it's OK to hit a woman if she has hit you. Apparently, a bus driver had reason to expel a woman passenger, she resisted, hit him at least once and spit in his face. He socked her, I gather not gently. Was it acceptable to do so? The moderator a woman, thought not and the few call-ins mostly agreed with her.

One such hit a woman coming at him with a knife. If you do that to a police officer she/he will probably shoot you; it is their protocol that threats to life and limb must be countered with force. But, the man's father chastised him. He should have restrained her or taken the knife away or perhaps run. I suppose that is a good strategy for a martial arts maven. Another caller, this time a woman described how her son's girl friend began beating him and he ran out of the house and called the police … who promptly arrested him.

The unspoken argument for not hitting a woman seemed that they are the gentler sex, too fragile to get into punching it out. Certainly, if that is accurate, even if she comes at you with a knife your only legitimate option is to run, but if she is faster than you, ah, that is left unsaid. As for me, I cannot imagine turning my back on anyone with a knife in tent on maiming me, particularly because I can no longer run fast.

My first reaction to the discussion was that if attacked, it is appropriate to respond with force and knock the woman down. When my demented wife came at me with a knife I remember thinking that I might have to get rough, but the police arrived and I was spared that ugly decision.

Upon reflection, I realize that the question misses the point. First, I don't buy the notion that women are too fragile to fight; perhaps many but surely not all. Construction workers, police women, service members and many, woman who are in excellent shape. There are many cases of domestic violence in which the woman beats up the man though perhaps the men follow the never-hit-a-woman rule. So, if some women are capable of violence it is not a meaningful question.

Forget get gender. If hit, whether by a male or female and that person is young, or unskilled in fighting, or too small to do harm, hitting is absurd, restraint is appropriate. Avoiding a fight is the first order of business, but if getting away won't work then yes, I would punch hard enough to eliminate the threat.

My point is that women do not deserve special consideration. In the 1930's movies, women frequently slapped a man and he stoically accepted the blow but our perception of women, their perception of themselves has moved them closer to equality. The other night, on The Good Wife, a woman with a right cross knocked a man out. The old rules are slowly changing. I have read that some women, if a man holds a door open for them, denigrate him and sometimes even punch. Perhaps such stories are apocryphal, but even their telling makes the point. So, I won't hold a door open for a young woman, but women of a certain age expect it, I will do it for them and anticipate a smile.

So, my rule is simple: If you come at me with the intent to do harm and cannot be avoided prepare to be punched, kicked, gouged and knocked down to the best of my ability.

If you are quietly enjoying your lunch

And a woman interrupts with a punch

If you cannot restrain her

I suggest that you brain her

And crunch her with blows in a bunch.