Hi Steven.

To me, the issue is not so much that men are (usually) physically stronger women, or even that patriiarchal society gives men a great deal of leeway in using violence or the treat of violence to "solve" their problems.  

The problem to me is this: masculine identity is largely framed around power, specifically power-over others, and even more specifically power over women. Every time that a man feels that I, in any way, shape, or form, have challenged his authority/superiority/power over me, I risk some form of retribution. While this retribution can take the form of physical violence, it just as likely to take a social or economic one.

Fact is, I cannot disagree with a man, without having to do so very carefully.  And with many men, there is no such thing as carefully enough - if you are a woman.  In my job, that has not only meant taking crap from bosses (even the self-proclaimed lefty-new-age-types) that they never would have given to another male, but it also meant taking crap from subordinate men, who didn't like a woman telling them what to do, or heaven forbid, correcting them.

It means, as part of lesbian couple, I am always watchful of the local men - aware that it might be dangerous to "piss them off" by driving too slowly (i.e. the speed limit) on our turny-twisty road that they, in their trucks, motocycles and muscle cars (or cars that they drive like muscle cars) treat as a racing strip.  What if after a hard day at work, and a few beers with the boys, they need a little macho-pick-me-up?  Well, there's that woman in the little car that always holds them up when their racing  home, and it's only another woman that lives there, so you know that that means.  

At the very least I worry about coming home and finding my dog, the alpacas, or the ducks dead.  Just because, as women, we are easy targets.  And as uppity women, we are especially "high-scoring" targets.  

As an example, after buying our place, my partner and I had a disagreement with the previous owner.  It was clear that he expected us to roll over, because he was threatening and we were women. We made some initial concessions, but his response was always escalation.  We spent most of the first year in our home worried that he or his son (who we found out was in jail later that year for assault) would come out here and take out their frustrations on us.  In the end, we gave them most of what they wanted, with only a small (but meaningful to us) concession on their part.  Oh, and all of the advice we got, even from our female lawyer, was just to give in.  Even the (female) court appointed mediator suggested (aside) that we make concessions based upon our fear of violent retribution.

I cannot even begin to count the cost to me, and all women, of having to constantly monitor the "dis/comfort level" of every man we interact with in order to be at least marginally "safe".  

 

daughter was fired from her job.
Reason.
A suburban and perhaps naive girl was asked to attend a series of training sessions in Boston.  Transportation to and from  this training was promised and at the last minute withdrawn leaving her to navigate the city, trains, and train schdules and procedures all on her own at the last minute.  We did in fact spend a solid year in a major European city but having her go into an American city sends my red danger, danger lights into red alert.  In short she failed the test and did not show up for the training which BTW was optional.

Now the next part is going to fall upon deaf and dumb politically correct ears but consider it my retirement.
Her "token" black boss, totally familiar and comfortable with all things city felt this was inexcusable.  Even though there were two instances of misognyistic complaints against this supervisor he did in fact occupy the "black" checkbox in a yuppie suburban demographic.
My daughter upset by the whole incident tendered her resignation which this yuppie suburban organization graciously accepted.

My other "diversity" experience comes from my wife who works as a nurse's aid.  The cheaper hires come in the form of latinos with marginal english skills who hide in rooms and refuse to answer call lights.  Once hired the management refuses to fire these people for fear of the "discrimination" lawsuit.  My wife is on prescription motrin from trying to lift too many people.

My third piss me off comes from the very same daughter.  By some galactic co-incidence the Army recruiters knew her brand new cell phone number.  They had a conversation with her about the Army.  The guy strangely knew where she was attending community college, what subjects she was taking.
Well my ensuing emails to every available military recruiter in my area.  Wow, the hate mail was phenominal but they have since left her alone.

In the end life is cheap in a cheap society.  Government is supposed to  serve the people and  therefore advance society.

Are you referring to anyone in particular?

Women have nothing to fear from men in our country.

Pretty sure the story is from Guyana.

It is and has always been frightening to be a woman.  How many times do we hear about little girls or grown women being raped, killed and dumped somewhere like so much trash.

This is why I refuse to watch any TV show or movie that uses violence against women as entertainment.  I loathe the growth of crime shows and CSI type shows that seem to revel in the details.

No matter how confident or strong she is, there is not a woman alive who feels completely at ease walking alone at night....let alone having received horrific personal attacks like Kathy Sierra has.  

"Don't waste your time on the clowns, watch the real show"