It is a natural instinct, I hate it when men's attitude in this regard is considered by modern feminists as an obstacle to be overcome. We evolved it for a reason, it serves a legitimate purpose for the species in general even when it's not appropriate for some specific situations. Men can tone it down and give women the space to prove themselves. As you said, it passes when the men see that you can handle yourself. We do smiler with each other, only instead of being protective, we pick on each other until we prove that we can handle ourselves.
I agree and disagree with Jerry. I agree that instinctively men are protective of women. However, that is men who have not been conditioned away from such natural instinct. I believe this also is seen in the military in the stronger men being defensive of a fellow soldier they see as weak. The strong protect the weak of their unit with and without gender context. It is similar to adult instinct to protect a child even if not their own.
Unfortunately, we are virtually dinosaurs in that regards. While men, particularly teens, have mouth courage if they are in a shielded or not threatened situation, most are cowards and only concerned of themselves. Other than basic necessities such as food, water, shelter etc until recently the focus of my life was the ability to defend against and not fear men on a physical level. I have gone to the defense of women and more rare children including in punitive ways. The result, among others, was being arrested over half a dozen times for assault but no convictions. Apparently the police agreed to the punitive action and only questioned the degree of it.
My motives in doing so are suspect and probably many including anger management issues, enjoying having excuse to do so, impressing women, fighting old battles on those men and ego issues. I like to think it also was out of a sense of justice in the jungle where there otherwise is no justice at all. It was gender oriented in that I would not hurt a woman to that degree if she was doing the same thing. You don’t pop a woman in the mouth for mouthing off at you. That is exactly what you do to another man. I’m not sure where I stand on corporal punishment of a child. I do know where I stand on corporal punishment of a punk.
I see no problem with women serving along side men in the military including the infantry. The protective natures of soldiers already is one of defensiveness of anyone in the unit seen as weaker so I don’t see any real change it would bring in that regards. Fortunately the men in our military for the most part are men in that regards. In our civilian population there aren’t many men in that way left.
On the pregnancy issue I see on problem with requiring women to be on required birth control if in an infantry unit. If the woman doesn’t like it, don’t join.
Equality needs to be equal and if women are to have equality and all male gender role rights, they should also share in the risk of dying in combat. Equal rights and benefits means equal duties and risks.
Of all I have read on this forum the most insightful is the quote of Rat you put in your sig. I never cease to be amazed at the seeming extreme courage men post on this board intermixed with whining about how they are being picked on.
(before you get any ideas, she was married and we respected that) but we were passively being protective of her.
