AceofPens wrote:
Towards whom? On one side of the equation, it's simply stating that girls are weaker than boys. This is true, functioning as a general rule. It also tells boys that they have to be physically impressive or else they lose their man-card. I think the latter might be more damaging, but then I'm biased.
As a girl that beat up a lot of boys, I think I agree with this. It's easier to be a tomboy as a kid than a weak boy I think. There's too much machismo pressure going around today.
At the same time boys were stronger than me for sure. I punched a bully in the back of the neck in second grade (low blow but he said something and turned around). He turned back around and knocked the wind out of me by punching me in my diaphragm. From then on I faced a bully head on properly and wrestled them into submission. I wasn't stronger, just better at manipulating my body weight and using my stature against them. I found that I fought to prove a point or defend someone, whereas boys fought to hurt me and assert their dominance. Machismo at it's worst.