Gender Relations

I know, my first post in what seems like forever and I pick one of the most aggravating topics...but in my defense I couldn't help it. I know that those who read this depraved thing are predominantly male, so this post is merely an inquiry of opinion.

I recently got into a heated debate with a male friend of mine who made the unwittingly stupid comment to me that women aren't competative, at least not as competative as men. To which I disagreed, obviously. He then proceeded to tell me that women were not as physically capable as men and that men were better competitors because women are taught to nurture...

Fear not, I'm not going to go on some feminist rampage, I know better than to do that...But was I not right to be more than a little pissed off at this completely narrow-minded chauvanistic attitude?! Or do all men think this? Do they still think that women are small, weak damsels in distress? Hoenstly, you would think the feminist revolution hadn't happened, twice!

I guess I'm shocked more than anything. I really thought we had all progressed at least a little further than this. I understand that the gender lines will never completely disappear, but I thought they had softened more than this. I thought that women we finally being seen as competant not only mentally but also physically. Women are finally allowed to compete is some serious compact sports and they do well. I'm not saying there aren't physically weak women...hell I'm one of them...but there are weak men as well.

I honestly think that society is only seeing the beginnings of what the female gender is capable. 40 years ago it wasn't appropriate for women to participate in contact sports, and it is only in the last few decades that women have been encouraged to participate. A century ago women weren't encouraged to become educated, and now women are seen everywhere in the employment world. I really felt with all the progression gained in this century that the male and female were becoming equal. But now I hear a male telling me that women just aren't as capable as men.

So which is it? Do men honestly think they still have a lead on women if not mentally than physically? Because I can tell you right now it's a known fact that women do have a higher threshold for pain...how else do you explain birth? I don't know of any men that have to endure squeezing something the size of a watermelon out a hole the size of a lemon. You want capable, that's fucking capable.

Anyway, I'm not trying to piss all of you off with this. I was really just honestly shocked...I'm not accusing any of you of feeling this way towards the female gender so please don't take offense to what I've said...I just want to know if this guy is just being chauvanisitic or if this opinion is across the board. Let me know...honestly...I promise not to hate you.