This was inspired by a lunch-room conversation today.

Lets take it as a given that men should not strike women, also that we are not talking about self-defense or the defense of others against physical violence.

It's only acceptable to hit a man if he's paying you for it

Domestic violence is unacceptable regardless of gender.

No hitting!

if he asks for it as some kind of sexual fantasy, sure
the answer is NO!

NO

Over the head with a frying pan to straighten his arse every now and then....ummm..... no?.....*cough*

wow, you must be talking to my ex girlfriend fay!!!'

i say no...

No

It is unacceptable for anyone to hit anyone else. Too much violence in this world.

Three people so far have voted that it's okay for a woman to hit a man, but no comments from that side

The conversation yesterday ended with me being told that because I'm a man, I don't have a say in the matter I don't have the right to say that a woman has no business hitting me???

I take it the conversation was with some women then? Did they think it was ok?

And you need to ask?? WOW

i always figured you more as a rolling pin gal.

nutter

Yes, three women, one agreed with me. I was saying that just as a man should never hit a woman, a woman has no business hitting a man either; for one thing, she would be taking unfair advantage. They told me it depends on the situation. What situation can possibly justify a woman doing something to a man that she would in no way tolerate from him??


I wouldn't have thought so if it weren't for conversations like that. And as I noted, three people so far in this poll think it's acceptable for a woman to assault a man...

Make that eight now who believe in one-sided domestic violence; still no explanations...

i had a friend, an alcholic and when drunk, was abusive to women that is, ask them to f##k etc..he deserved to be slapped with some of the comments he made to them....he finally got sober, and has tried to make amends for the rudeness he did..he volunteers at the women's center

maybe that's the kind of hitting the 8 people on this thread are referring to??? It's still not the ideal, but to get a guy to back off if a woman feels threatened?

i think the rude behavior related to this repsonse from some ladies....

No one needs to hit anyone regardless of gender.

Long live S&M.

I voted no.Domestic violence is a BIG no-no.

Self-defence in the face of a phyical threat is one thing, hitting/slapping a man because the woman is angry/insulted/what-have-you is another.

Make another poll then, asking when it is acceptable.

Well, to be fair, you didn't ask them if it was ok for a man to hit a woman. Maybe they would say yes to that too, in which case it wouldn't be a double standard.

apparently we have some double standards around here. \

eta: 8 total now.

I did state in the OP as a given that men shouldn't be hitting women...I didn't think I'd have to ask whether that was ok.

maybe they voted before they read your post...

I voted no by the way...

Alright, well still I think you're jumping to a conclusion by saying that these people advocate one-sided "domestic violence". Was the poll limited to romantic relationships?

Is it ok for a woman to hit another woman? A man to hit another man? A woman to slap a man who makes an unwanted sexual advance (not a physical threat, but a harassing comment etc.)?

ETA: I think I know a few women who wouldn't hesitate to punch a guy who said something crass to her. I don't think that means they think it would be ok to go home and kick the crap out of their husbands!

8 people said yes

I'll create a new poll later with more options.....

Would these women think that if a woman says something crass (or otherwise offensive) to a man, then he would be justified in punching her?

Probably not. The reason would probably have something to do with men being stronger than women.

I just don't find it very shocking (and before anyone says anything, no I have never hit a man, or a woman for that matter!). I know that we shouldn't judge what is acceptable or not by what we see on TV, but I think that does play a role. How many movies can you think of where the outraged woman gives a pervy guy a good smack across the face and everyone in the audience laughs or cheers?

Agreed. I voted no, but I would say that if I was being attacked, I would certainly hit back.
However, I don't think it's acceptable for me to hit P (or whomever) just because I'm female and say "no you can't hit me though."

Which probably sounds like I think it's ok for a lot of slapping to occur

No.
But in self-defense, yes. Just as I would expect if some loony psycho beeyotch is attacking a guy for him to hit back.

So, the determining factor is how hard a man in general can hit versus how hard a woman can? What about a particular woman who is stronger than a particular man?

That's probably not ok either. LOL, I don't really know. Maybe it goes back to, "pick on someone your own size"?

LOL! I was taught that it is unacceptable for a man to hit a woman, but it wasn't only about women supposedly being the "weaker sex." It was a respect issue. There was no suggestion that a man was allowed to hit a woman if she were stronger than he. But conversely, I don't believe it is acceptable for a woman to take advantage of the rule against men hitting women and think that women are allowed to hit men with impunity.

I have a rule with Mel- if he ever hits me, I hit him back.

He does like to smack my butt- which I don't really care for so I smack him back- hard.

Foreplay is different

with what?

I slapped my hubby once we were having a disagreement and I got so frustrated with him that I slapped him...

right aways I felt so bad and guilty about it

I have never done that again, nor will I ever do that again...

Shall we put you down as a "yes" vote?

I was gonna ask what did the man do?

I didn't vote because I think too much.....

Truthfully, my SO is a big guy and so I could probably hit him and it would tickle him. I'd have to hit him with a cast iron skillet for it to mean something. But if I had a son, he could get a spanking for misbehaving seriously....so I could say yes and no.

I guess I would say that I would never hit anyone out of anger. I choose C.

Good points.