Do you think if a woman punches a man, he should punch her back?

[kimx33jz]

Yes!

No!

[Anonymous]

First of all, let's dispel the myth that a woman can't physically harm a man when she punches him. If she lands a punch she can break his nose, knock out a tooth, split his lip, causing permanent scarring, even knock him out and cause serious injury or death if he hits his head as he falls. Those things have happened many times so we need to let go of that false belief because it is a dangerous one.

Having said that, the only reason we discuss this question is because we generally perceive women as being physically weaker than men. Relative strength is the issue, not gender. So let's consider the question in that context and remove gender from the equation for a moment.

Think about how you would feel if you observed the following scenario. A short, skinny 120 pound man picks a fight with a large 220 pound man and gets his ass kicked. Odds are you will feel the man who picked the fight got exactly what he asked for and deserved, and that he learned the valuable life lesson that one should not pick a fight with someone bigger that them lest they risk getting seriously hurt.

But in the exact same scenario described above, if it was a 120 woman who picked a fight with a 220 pound man, most people would view the woman as a victim and the man as asshole who should be arrested and charged with assault. So what is the difference? Sexism, pure and simple.

Today we still give women a pass with respect to personal responsibility in any scenario involving physical assault where a man is involved. This is just one example of how society treats women like children rather than responsible adults, and that needs to end. Women need to be held to the same standards as men are for their choices and actions. Today they are not.

If an adult picks a fight with a much larger adult, they need to expect they will likely get their ass kicked, as they should. Gender does not matter. That must be the expectation because if it is, there will be fewer physical assaults and fewer people (women AND men) will get hurt. That is the goal, and the only way we will achieve it is by setting the expectation for women that if they punch a man, they are going to get punched right back.

Guys, that is on us, and we owe it to ourselves, and future generations, to set that new expectation.

[MikeAndMolly]

I don't believe reciprocation or escalation are appropriate responses to violence. An eye for an eye is stupid and counterproductive.

You should use violence exclusively as a tool of self preservation and in defense of others. In that context it doesn't matter who you're using it against; this isn't a question of getting "permission" to hit a woman because a certain set of items have been ticked off a checklist. You use violence, precisely and ONLY as necessary to protect yourself and others. You don't hit or attack someone because you feel like they deserve it. If a woman is currently threatening your health and physical safety, or the safety of someone else nearby, and you can, by an act of violence and ONLY by that act, disarm or diffuse the threat, then you absolutely have the right to do so.

For example, if she is CURRENTLY punching you or imminently punching you, you can respond with appropriate and measured violence as, in the most extreme case, a deterrent, but even then, you should take into account exactly how threatened you actually feel.

This last point is why it is historically considered impolite to hit a woman back who has hit you; most women venting frustration or anger at a man by using their fists don't actually pose a real threat to that mans physical safety; both practically and statistically, even a woman who is actually hitting you with her fists is less likely to escalate that violence in the heat of passion, and you are unlikely to actually suffer sustained injury from someone hitting you like that.

In contrast, a woman who is directly trying to actually do you serious physical harm (say, gouge your eyes out, break a bone, or induce concussion) is likely to succeed eventually if she isn't stopped. It's hard to describe in a strictly factual manner the difference between a venting of frustration (which is still unsafe and inappropriate) vs a serious attempt to inflict bodily harm.

In short, though, you (the victim of her attack) actually do probably know the difference in that moment, and whatever the law or public opinion says, you have an ethical license to use only and exactly the force necessary to prevent physical injury to yourself or others.

[nathanp97]

Most women hit men and don't expect to get hit back. If it hurts at all I'm going to hit her back so she learns not to hit people and that I'm not messing around.

[MikeAndMolly]

@nathanp97

This sort of thinking will likely have an effect, but it will also alienate her and likely make her feel unsafe around you. There are other, non-violent ways to communicate this.

To be clear, male violence against women kills more women every year than terrorism has killed in the last decade. Joining the ranks of guys who visit violence against women to "teach them a lesson" is not justified by your discomfort alone. You need to actually feel that your health or safety are at risk before using violence.

That said, I'm not defending her use of violence in this situation either. She has no right to hit you or harm you just because she expects no repercussions. But understand this: In this society, we do not avoid hitting each other because we fear being hit back; we avoid hitting each other because we agree as a society that it is wrong, and because it doesn't get us what we want.

Punishment is an ineffective means of conditioning anyway.

So basically; hitting women as a way to get her to "learn not to hit people and that you're not messing around" is ineffective and ethically wrong, but so is her hitting you in the first place. You don't get license to commit a wrong just because someone else has. You have license to use violence only in the defense of yourself and others.

[nathanp97]

I don't have a problem with her feeling unsafe around me. With any luck her being afraid will keep her away from me.

When I mean hit back I don't mean beat her to a bloody pulp. If she punches me in the face I'll do the same. I won't go all out, especially on the first hit. The first hit is a warning shot, after that if she continues I'll start hitting harder.

Do you know how many people die from accidental deaths, and how easy it is to loose your balance and fall. Any fight or physicality against a person is a risk to his life and well being. You can also include my mental health as a factor. Getting hit around can harm a person mentally as well as physically.

I'm not punishing her, I'm teaching her that there are consequences for her actions, and just because she is a girl doesn't mean I won't hit back. How is it ethically wrong? It can cause her to stop hitting you, and I care way more about my well being than some lady that is assaulting me. If some is hitting you it is self defense.

[MikeAndMolly]

@nathanp97
"When I mean hit back I don't mean beat her to a bloody pulp"
"Any fight or physicality against a person is a risk to his life"

Yea see here's the problem and you made my argument for me really well. If she hit you, but now she's DONE HITTING YOU, and clearly not about to hit you again, your response (hitting her back) is not self defense anymore because you aren't actually defending anything by doing it. It's now using violence (which you spell out very clearly above has a small but very serious chance of causing disability or death no matter how measured or well-intentioned), to teach her a lesson.

And that's what pieces of shit do.

I'll say it again: we don't use violence as a teaching method, even when the lesson is about violence.

If you retaliate when the confrontation is already in the process of ending, you are responsible for the potential consequences of the violence you visit on her. You didn't need to hit her back to protect yourself. You could have just done nothing.

Many men believe in the teaching power of punishment; hurt them so that they learn not to do it again.

Psychology has come down pretty hard against that philosophy as a teaching and shaping tool, because while it can get results, it's like using a woodcutting axe to carve minature figurines; you may successfully cut the wood, yes, but you're also going to damage the figurine in the process.

I'll say it again: using violence to actually protect yourself and stop an attacker is fine. Using violence as a punishment to "teach her a lesson" and "show her you're serious" is ANYTHING but fine.

[crazy8000]

Some tries to twist here and ending up looking like what he tries to make the other one looks like.

[nathanp97]

If she hits you once she might do it again in the future. If you quickly hit her back she will hopefully learn to to ever do it again. Basically, by hitting her back you prevent future insurances and can keep both parties safer. Women need to learn responsibly. They already get 60% less prison time for the same crime as a man.

[eviegurl]

Ok firstly if the man and woman are spouses then they shouldn't be hitting one another period beyond that scope of it's just some random female and some random guy then hell yes she just assulted him and he has every right to defend him self so don't go punching people and I'm just saying for my self if I punch a guy Chances he's gonna be able to let off a punch before I've hit him three or four times I. The button are slim chances he's still awake even slimmer so if he's still standing I would hope he would at least try before I completely kicked the shit out of him lol

[Guardian45]

Are some kind of boxer or street fighter?

[Guardian45]

You***

[eviegurl]

Ex military

[eviegurl]

Pretty unbiased bunch man or woman makes no difference

[eviegurl]

Canadian forces even allows homosexual to enlist here anyone willing to take a bullet is allowed the opportunity to attend lol

[eviegurl]

And no I don't go around street fighting anyone if it comes to it tho ur probably fucked everyone can get luckey but the chances are it's gonna be me lol

[Djaay]

Dont flatter yourself woman... you aiant all that !!

[jacield]

I so not believe in putting your hands on a woman or on a man. If you can hit a man be ready to get hit back by a man. If you can punch a man like a man be ready to fight like a man. Vice versa which by the way I do not Condone hitting by anyone for no reason.

[UnknownReflection]

No. But i also would say it depends.

There is a two side of story to this perception.

-First and foremost, normally i would say totally a big no. I don't believe in hitting females. Even if they punch and try to be aggressive, it doesn't usually end up being a big deal as naturally males are programmed to be physically stronger and tougher than females. The strength spectrum is naturally different so it would be illogical to react aggressively back to someone who can't physically match you.

-However, some people tend to tremendously underestimate female's physical strengths too. ignoring exceptional cases is dangerous in my opinion. As much as there is a natural biological patterns and programmings, there are cases where females can be physically superior to males. Imagine a case of a thin and short male with a 6 foot female who lift weights. You think the female can't be superior to the male? this is how some males are getting raped by women out there and the society is not even taking it seriously, or there are extremely skillful females who are body builders, arm trained, martial art trained and so on. Totally technical and clinical with their moves. These females can sit above average and are capable of causing harm beyond an average female and can stand against the average male pretty easily. The time has changed, it's not 50's where all women are expected to be soft housewives. Females are challenging their physicality. Therefore, i stand firm on my no female hitting policy, but in any given chance, if i feel my health can be threatened by one of these exceptional cases, that's where i wouldn't care my opposition is male or female, young or old, i will defend myself back with full strength as i definitely won't stand there getting hurt because my attacker is female. Nope. I will defend myself when necessary if the situation feels too threatening.

[FakeName123]

If you attack someone with the intent of harming, then you deserve everything coming back at you. Just because the attacker is potentially physically weaker doesn't mean people can just go for it.

I had a question about it here that had the intent to show it: If a much smaller guy punches another guy - should the bigger one be allowed to punch back?

[MrOracle]

I think a man should defend himself (not all punches necessarily merit a violent response), but he should use the minimum amount of violence necessary to do so (which is often none).

Using violence in response to any attack is done to defend yourself and not merely to retaliate, and you should only use the amount of force needed to stop the threat. If this girl was looking to keep punching, and she had enough power and skill to do real damage, then, sure, punching back might be necessary. If she punched me lightly enough to do no damage and wasn't looking to continue, then I probably wouldn't do more than raise my voice.

[RaindropSparkle]

You always give the best answers. I’m so glad you’re on GAG as I think a lot of people here need your wisdom judging by some of the opinions I see.

[MrOracle]

@RaindropSparkle Thanks for the feedback. The whole reason I bother to post is to hopefully help someone. it's good to know that some find it useful.

[RaindropSparkle]

Well it’s good to see! 😊 Keep up the good work! 👍🏻

[Mikeymike81]

A woman has no right to physically abuse a man.
A man has the right to defend himself, he should however bear in mind the fact that he may be physically stronger (not always) and react with measured force to prevent him being abused further.

Abuse is abuse regardless of which gender is performing it.

Also if a woman is punching someone unprovoked then she should expect to be hit back. Gender itself should not be a shield to be used at your convienance.

Would I hit a woman back? Only if my life depended upon it otherwise I would subdue them with minimal harm... I would also do the same for a man.

[Screenwriter]

Best reply! Try to do minimal harm. But I think that people who do these "bar assaults" always seem to be blind drunk and completely out of control. Sometimes dispatching them is the only recourse.

[Mikeymike81]

I'm a black belt in taekwondo so perhaps it's different for me as I know how to subdue someone without the need to necessarily strike them but I can understand that for others they might have no choice but to strike out.

[Insomnia72]

I don't think there should be a standard to this. I've been hit in the face by guys during a fight and boxing. And I've fallen off my mountain bike without a helmet and smashed my head on the dirt, rising up staggering in confusion, feeling an urge to puke due to brain damage... it's part of the reason my neck is so forked up and I'm a bit psychotic.

So I think it comes down to ego. My body has taken an amazing amount of abuse, but the ego... the ego seems to exaggerate all that beating and demand revenge. So I think an internal analysis is required here. I've never hit a woman, nor is it part of my agenda, and if a woman went crazy on me and just smacked me for no reason I would like to think I would just hold her arms in place so she didn't hit me again and leave it at that. What's done is done, and I'm okay. I've taken worse and recovered. Leave my ego out of it and just suppress her.

[EmbraceThePain]

Well, “should” is the word I’m fixated on here. I think the man should use his own discretion to decide the proper course of action, and perhaps he is justified in punching back if a woman punches him first. Context and specifics matter in this situation. I think a lot of people definitely rush into false conclusions because many are too lazy to think in-depth in anything and become very emotional which leads to rash decision-making. It’s during times of mental fervor that having self-control and a cool head are most important.

[QueenTanya]

He should be able to punch her without be condemned for it. I mean, morally he shouldn't do it, to keep the peace. There is the option of self-defense or just walking away but if he does decide to punch back, he should not be shamed for it just because he's a male. I'm sure plenty of men wouldn't do it either way, mainly because their strength would do more damage.

[Janncis]

Yee often we try to walk away, but then often girls get this bright idea to keep attacking and gets really pissed if pushed away. But after first fist fly into there faces they sudenly becomes victims. Girls are ood, they want to fight till fight actually starts and then they want to play victims and get away from fight.

[Sonorous]

I don't think anyone should inflict harm if there is another alternative.

But if a woman punches a man, he should be able to punch back, but only in self-defense. Anything extra is unnecessary. He should take into account the power of his punch relative to the strength and intent of hers.

So many women may punch a guy because they just feel like they need to release a bunch of emotions. I don't think that should go unpunished, but I think the guy's goal shouldn't be to severely injure her if her intent wasn't to severely injure him.

[Liston]

Indeed... i did some boxing when i was younger and the old adage still stands...“weight will stop a train”... that's why they have weight divisions in boxing.

[Vesuvius87]

Before immediately resorting to punching back as first resort, I think it has to be analyzed; not as gender but as an individual case and situation. Is this woman (or man) a hulk or strong and threatening to his safety or is this a 4 footer Snookie that threw a non-threatening lame, punch?

Perhaps it doesn't apply the same woman vs stronger woman or man vs small guy (it should though) but I'll give you a brief example:
My female childhood friend is only 4'9 meanwhile I'm 5'7 and overweight her by a lot. I wouldn't hit her back if she punches me. Her hits wouldn't be similar to an annoying child with tantrums and it wouldn't hurt. However if I resorted to hitting her back at full force, I can hurt her badly or even kill her. So what would I do:
- Hold her to calm her down or block her punches by covering my face.
- Basically restrain her and report it

[Janncis]

Have you been in fights, sparring is ok to? If itc isn't surprise or any other stimulant that would cause reaction from mucle memmory, it could work. Else if suprised or harmed in a way thats fight or fly mode, first punch will be full power next ones probably to, till it registers on whats happening.

[Lucky1974]

In some cases violence can be perfectly justified. I am a reasonable person, if I did wrong and someone punched me, I won’t retaliate, instead accept my punishment and apologise. But if someone’s violence towards me was unjustified, then I would DEFINITELY retaliate even against a woman. Women want equality, let’s give them equality by treating them as we would treat any man. Or do women want to cherrypick only the good aspects of equality? I believe in equality for all thus why I treat women as I would treat a man; the only difference being is that I only get sexual with women.

[lackconscience1116]

I think he has the epic right to defend himself and if she is full on punching him repeatedly and his reflexes kick in, I totally think that's understandable. I just think... First try to restrain, second defend yourself with the least amount of force you can, finally so what you gotta do to keep yourself safe. A psychopath coming at you male or female that won't let you leave has chosen a fight that is no longer gender related.😊

[YHL6965]

Yes. In my opinion, if you stop behaving like a lady by hitting someone like that, you don't deserve to be treated like a lady. You want to do like men and start physical fights, well prepare to be treated like one.

Personally, I would not do something like that, I have a whole method dedicated to that kind of situation :
- first strike : "Stop attacking me"
- second strike (which I will probably block) : "Stop attacking me or I will retaliate"
- third strike (which I will probably block) : "Stop attacking me or I will retaliate. Last warning!"
- fourth strike (which I will probably block) : Armlock her to the ground and tell someone to call the police.

Armlocks are good because they restrain someone and they only hurt if the person resists or if you choose to apply more pressure, effectively forcing the person to calm themselves.

[Dargil]

Huge "sometimes" on this. If I do something intentionally or even unintentionally hurtful, like not calling when I drove home in a blizzard, I drew the foul. But if we disagree, I debate strongly and she slaps me to "redirect" the argument, this can happen.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Im94IuM_3o

Like the old man, sometimes women feel they are entitled to violence as "discipline" when men are supposed to just accede. With me, Bad Idea.

[camotedragon]

No in my book it can't be considered as fair, I once got attacked by some chick and she punched me in the face with like 3 solid hits and she was a pretty good size girl and well it didn't do much damage and well I have been praying punched by lots of guys and it varies but guys hit so much harder I just couldn't bring myself to hit back, although there is one exception where I know I could not hold back and that's if I saw my wife, daughter, or my mother getting wrecked my a woman of considerable size well I think I'm might swing on her with out thinking out of rage

[kaylad23]

Very noble of you

[CrypticLOL]

A lot of people seem to automatically assume that the man is stronger than the woman or is capable of restraining her with little effort or resistance, which is not always the case.

Yeh, if you're early stronger than someone and can restrain someone with minimal violence you should do so, but it is not always that simple. If someone randomly attacks you in the street, your automatic response is to either attack back or run away, and if she is weaker and enda up getting knocked out, it's her fault for attacking someone in the first place.

Of course context is always important, but these situations are typically random, unjustified acts of violence, and I see no issue with a person retaliating with appropriate force to defend themself. Or you could just not attack people, and you won't be beaten up by the big bad bully you assaulted.

[Jackieboi]

Im guessing if she punched him, not slapped, she did it for a pretty good reason. So at first glance no. At second glance all the guys around would probably beat the shit out of him even if "she started it", so no. If it was me id take it and try dodging if more came, and try to leave where ever we are rn. That said if a man were to punch her back i wouldn't stop him unless he was previously acting physically controlling or threatening. people react differently to things and if she's gonna take the step of physically hurting someone she should be prepared for anything including being stabbed or killed. Its always hilarious when chicks, and i say chicks here cause its befitting, think they can enter mens world or think they have remotely understood anything about it. Hilarious

[themaus]

No , even if its a guy or a girl getting physical is not right, even if the significant other is stronger and can take it. Most domestic violence cases the the guy would say she had it coming ( which is a cowardly excuse for a man ). And even if she hit you first and you know could knock her out with a gentle blow, you should be stronger mentally aswell.(hopefully they will be sane enough to realise their mistakes). Most wife beaters are cowards and have loads of insecurities. So unless it's a UFC fighter and probably put up a good fight ( yay for equality:P) getting physical with weaker subjects is pathetic regardless of the gender.

[SportsNerd]

He can slap her back

[themaus]

@SportsNerd what? no...

[SportsNerd]

A slap back is ok

[themaus]

Lol no agree to disagree. Hitting someone weaker than you shows how weak your character is, same goes to when you hit someone when they know the other won't hit back. Both parties deserve partners with similar mentalities. by the way its completely fine for foreplay😋

[SportsNerd]

A slap would not hurt much

[themaus]

You really want get slapped don't you 🤣 like I said for foreplay it's all right

[mistixs]

"An eye for an eye, a wound for a wound, etc" would indicate he could hit her back with equal measure (causing the same amount of damage that she inflicted upon him, but no more than that). Likewise if the person who hit him is a man.
People saying it's justified to beat a person (man or woman) to a pulp just because they slapped you, are spiteful and pathetic and just wanting to justify their cravings for violence

[DeshawnMGTOW]

chat shit get hit

[mistixs]

@DeshawnMGTOW Immature

[Janncis]

In teory thats perfect, in real life hardly. With adrenalin pumping your brain might just not have time to think and it just goes down to muscle memory. I mean why risk it? You dont start fights, and thats even more truth if you can't win them.

[mistixs]

@Janncis where did I say that it's okay for women (or men) to throw a first punch? I thought that was a given that it's not okay

[JackSmy]

I wouldn't punch back, but I would also avoid the punch.
I doubt that the relationship would last until the sun rises, if she tried to punch me!
I don't think it is right to hit anyone, ever, and I have never hit a woman, but I have dodged a few slaps, and maybe 'punches' from some that were acting out, having drank too much.
I always go to avoiding the hit/punch, and restraining, or keeping someone that is too drunk from hurting anyone, when they are out of control.

[hahahmm]

1. A man should never hit a Lady.
2. If a female hits a man (except for self-defense) she’s not a lady.
3. A female hitting a man is acting like a man & can be treated 100% like a man.

The only problem is that society & the justice system is full of simps (guy’s who kiss female azz) so a man needs evidence that he was in the right OR to make sure she goes into a coma so she can’t lie about what happened. Smart women don’t hit men.