# Is there any situation in which a man hitting a woman would be "OK"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827 "2008-09-16T12:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frustrated_Wonderer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/1 "2008-09-16T12:53:45Z")
Just out of pure curiosity, honest. šŸ™‚ Iā€™d like to hear from both perspectives on this one, not only males. In most societies, a man hitting woman is just not acceptable. There are good reasons for this, but at the same time, how far should this rule of etiquette go? Is there any situation in which hitting a male hitting woman would not be \*that \*bad? What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/2 "2008-09-16T13:02:14Z")
Yeah, self-defense. If Iā€™m being attacked or mugged by a woman, I would defend myself the same as I would if she was a man. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/3 "2008-09-16T13:03:29Z")
No. Likewise for a woman hitting a man, a woman hitting another woman, or a man hitting a man. (And, yes, Iā€™m aware that some consider boxing an acceptable activity.) ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/4 "2008-09-16T13:03:47Z")
One can hit a woman in any situation in which one can hit a man. Short of self defense or to save life or limb, though, I canā€™t think of any situation in which one can hit a man. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/5 "2008-09-16T13:05:17Z")
If the women hits the man first, then I think he has the right to hit back. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/6 "2008-09-16T13:11:47Z")
Never. OK, in self-defense. I suppose that if a woman was trying her best to kill me, and stood a good chance of succeeding, I would have a clear pass to punch her in the face a couple of times. There was a situation, a few years back, when my roommate pushed his girlfriend down. She was being her usual brat self. As was common on Friday nights, they got into a shouting match. I believe that this was what they called ā€œlovemaking.ā€ And as usual, she threatened to go home. But this Friday was different. Instead of begging and pleading with her to please stay, baby I can change, let me keep my balls in your purse, my roommate told her to go ahead and leave. She indignantly got out the front door and to the landing, then threw a screaming fit. ā€œHow dare you kick me out, you FUCKING ASSHOLE!!!ā€ She tried to force her way back in, and a struggle ensued. He ended up pushing her to the floor. Well, imagine the violence that she felt. She ran down the stairs and wailed her bloody head off. Neighbors came out to see what evils had been visited on her. Itā€™s amazing that the cops werenā€™t called. They should have broken up that night. Instead, about a year later, she moved in. Without my foreknowledge or consent. And her bitchiness escalated. Every single day she screamed her head off if I so much as made a peep. So yeah, itā€™s OK to hit a woman. That particular woman. Iā€™ll even lend you some brass knuckles. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/7 "2008-09-16T13:15:12Z")
If a woman is attacking you, you do have the right to subdue her so you can leave. Thatā€™s what self-defense is. If she scratches you, that does not give you the right to push her into the wall, breaking her nose and three teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/8 "2008-09-16T13:22:48Z")
I think you guys are misunderstanding the question. As far as I can tell, the OP wants to know this: Given that itā€™s unacceptable to hit a woman, if you should see a man hitting a woman, is it ever acceptable to hit that man yourself to make him stop? If so, under what circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![Influential\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/9 "2008-09-16T13:27:58Z")
I suppose if you were to slap her with a white glove and say _I demand satisfaction!_ she might think it was charming. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/10 "2008-09-16T13:28:02Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > As far as I can tell, the OP wants to know this: Really? Thatā€™s how you parsed the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/11 "2008-09-16T13:30:35Z")
> [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](#): > > In most societies, a man hitting woman is just not acceptable. I donā€™t think this statement is true. Most societies, both historically and worldwide, seem to have tolerated a rather high level of spousal control by the husband, where some violence was acceptable. So, could you define ā€œOKā€? Itā€™s never going to be OK with me, but it already is okay with quite a lot of men worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![PoorWarblingOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4491bb/32.png) [@PoorWarblingOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorWarblingOne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/12 "2008-09-16T13:31:40Z")
I donā€™t see why it makes a difference whether itā€™s a woman. Either itā€™s acceptable to hit a person, or itā€™s not. Iā€™d think not, most of the time. If the ā€œruleā€ about hitting women exists to protect women because they are theoretically less able to defend themselves, then the same rule ought logically to extend to prevent men from hitting weaker men. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/13 "2008-09-16T13:39:57Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > : > > Originally Posted by Chef Troy > > As far as I can tell, the OP wants to know this: > > Really? Thatā€™s how you parsed the OP? Yeah. Me too. The phrasing is awkward, but > [@](#): > > Is there any situation in which hitting a man hitting a woman would be ā€œOKā€? doesnā€™t seem to be capable of interpretation other than ā€œIs it OK to hit a man who is himself hitting a womanā€. Unless the OP mistakenly added a ā€œhittingā€ in there. But I interpreted the OP thread title the same way **Chef Troy** did. Then I just got confused. It made me want to hit someone. But that wouldnā€™t be right. ---
**Author:** ![PoorWarblingOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4491bb/32.png) [@PoorWarblingOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorWarblingOne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/14 "2008-09-16T13:43:36Z")
:smack: read the question properly before postingā€¦ Sorry, chaps. ---
**Author:** ![Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frustrated_Wonderer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/15 "2008-09-16T13:44:22Z")
oops! Yeah, extra ā€œhittingā€ in there. BUT, if you want, you can answer either question. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/16 "2008-09-16T13:45:17Z")
Well, I guess I was overthinking it, since the OP just came back in and explained. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/17 "2008-09-16T13:45:55Z")
A guy where I once worked actually said this: ā€œIā€™ve never hit a woman and Iā€™ll never do it again.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/18 "2008-09-16T13:46:28Z")
Ah, got it. I passed right over the typo. To answer the alternate question, yes, itā€™s OK to stop domestic violence. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/19 "2008-09-16T14:02:28Z")
If I saw anyone beating the crap out of anyone else, I would and have smacked them good. I didnā€™t learn self-defense to defend only myself. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827/20 "2008-09-16T14:37:44Z")
> [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](#): > > Is there any situation in which hitting a male hitting woman would not be \*that \*bad? Self defense. And only if necessary to facilitate getting away. I think the same about a woman hitting a man, a woman hitting another woman, or a man hitting another man. Hitting - not a good thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-situation-in-which-a-man-hitting-a-woman-would-be-ok/463827.md?page=2)