Hi Horrorble, the "weaker vessel" is the gender that cannot compete in the arena of sports or combat with the "stronger vessel." How many MMA fights have you seen where a woman competes with a man? How many women football players have you seen, or for that matter base ball players? Is it because of discrimination, or is it because of ability? Jackie Robinson showed it was discrimination with blacks, why doesn't a woman step up to the plate and show the same thing, instead of proving they are the "weaker vessel?"
Plus, you have this:
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
KB
I've seen it. I used to spar consistently in martial arts with men younger and taller and with more upper body strength and would win as much as them. I've also seen women spar against men in various grappling and MMA style fighting and utilize our superior lower body strength against men and find ways to defeat them.
The view that men are naturally better leaders, fighters, and governers is archaic. I suggest you come to my daughters dojo where she is a Black Belt in karate and can kick anybody's ***. Plus, the founder of the dojo is a woman who is a 7th degree Black Belt herself, and usually strikes fear into many hearts, female or male.
Oh, and my daughter is turning 15 on Monday and is around 5'3". I'm 4'11", and in my sparring, I have consistently flipped a man who was 6'4" over my shoulder. It's actually easier for smaller individuals to flip people over shoulders because it's not muscle, it's hip placement and positioning. With my hips lower than many others, I can throw others more easily than taller people who have to either crouch lower or grunt and muscle their way through.
Plus, smaller folks with superior lower body strength are more agile, have better dexterity, and can change direction and levels much more easily.
I contend after years of study and fighting and sparring that women have a lot of untapped potential to be great fighters, combat soldiers, and (by your example) competitive in professional sports with men. Different body proportions and mental strategies does not mean "better" or "worse", just different, but all together just as effective.
Your logic if put on the other shoe would show that when men get more involved in child care or housework or teaching children or nursing that suddenly these pasttimes and professions would become more aggressive, rough around the edges, and harsh (given the archaic view that women are unable to protect themselves or use force to protect others). Child care is child care, and it can be demonstrated by either gender in great capacity. Same with combat and with sports.
BTW, I also regularly train with not just martial artists, but former special forces personnel who are privately employed now in various security capacities. Not once have they ever once discouraged me or any other woman from training or pursuing combat training or goals. And not once have they ever mentioned that a woman can't or shouldn't do what they have done or did. I've in fact been invited repeatedly to go through drills in guerrilla warfare with high-grade weaponry and explosives. I have only chosen not to because....why?.....
I'm running a business and acting as a leader to my staff made up of men and women.
Have you seen a female animal ready to protect her babies? From anything, including other males and other predators? Humans are the same way....don't mess with a woman's children, because she will throw down, lift cars, run into burning buildings, etc. with as much fury and determination as any man.
