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A World in which Men are Smaller and Weaker than Women...

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SandJosieph Since: Dec, 2009
#1: Feb 19th 2011 at 11:50:33 PM

How much would this change culture, history, and other stuff if the women stayed the same average size and strength yet the men are significantly shorter and weaker?

Discuss.

MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#2: Feb 20th 2011 at 12:21:46 AM

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"

To be honest, apart from the gender reversal, I don't honestly see much difference.

cityofmist turning and turning from Meanwhile City Since: Dec, 2010
turning and turning
#3: Feb 20th 2011 at 1:49:39 AM

Well, if women are the same but men are weaker then the human race is weaker overall. Presumably that would have some knock-on effects.

edited 20th Feb '11 1:49:51 AM by cityofmist

Scepticism and doubt lead to study and investigation, and investigation is the beginning of wisdom. - Clarence Darrow
doorhandle Since: Oct, 2010
#4: Feb 20th 2011 at 2:14:41 AM

Good point.

Also, There is a book called "Manthropology" that suggests a similar thing has already happend.

Reguardless, if women were stronger than men, I think they would switch roles in terms of who would be the expendable gender, but i'm not sure abouth other changes.

SandJosieph Since: Dec, 2009
#5: Feb 20th 2011 at 2:22:56 AM

Like who fights in the wars or does the heavy lifting?

doorhandle Since: Oct, 2010
#6: Feb 20th 2011 at 2:25:55 AM

Potentially. if gender roles are more societal than hormonal, it might affect aggressiveness too, but I wouldn’t know.

LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#7: Feb 20th 2011 at 4:48:39 AM

I don't think gender roles regarding 'expendability' would change. Men being the expendable gender isn't based on size/strength, it's based on women being the deciding factor for reproduction rates.

Be not afraid...
doorhandle Since: Oct, 2010
#8: Feb 21st 2011 at 3:20:32 AM

So, like Sengoku Basara, with the men being the mooks and the women being the generals?

Takwin Polite smartass. from R'lyeh Since: Feb, 2010
Polite smartass.
#9: Feb 21st 2011 at 7:08:49 AM

Real-world hyenas already have this going. The females are much fiercer than their submissive male counterparts, and their social structure is very matriarchal. Basically, the typical mammal gender roles are inverted with them. The webcomic Digger features anthropomorphic hyenas and explores this quite well. I'd recommend it for inspiration and research on the topic.

edited 21st Feb '11 7:09:41 AM by Takwin

I've returned from the depths to continue politely irritating the good people of Tv Tropes.(◕‿◕✿)
FrodoGoofballCoTV from Colorado, USA Since: Jan, 2001
#10: Feb 21st 2011 at 7:21:37 AM

[up][up]Like so? In Drowtales, the gender roles are reversed for elves, with the surnames passing through the female line. However males can still hold important jobs, but only if they work for it or their mothers put them there. However, goblins are not this way.

I have personally observed Latrodectus hesperus, an arachnid species where the males are less than half the weight of the females. Unlike their close relative, the Black Widow, they form communnal nests, and the males wander in search of a mate. In the nest I observed, there was a large matriarch (with a body diameter over 1/2" (1.3 cm)), a sub - adult female, two adult males, and about 20 plump, white babies.

edited 21st Feb '11 7:32:43 AM by FrodoGoofballCoTV

NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#11: Feb 21st 2011 at 9:40:44 PM

oh, how did I know who made this thread...

Well, much better. Hyenas have this going, as do other species, maybe pointing out things in a prologue.

A villain who resents this way things are, and who uses telekinesis to even the odds.

edited 21st Feb '11 9:41:53 PM by NickTheSwing

SandJosieph Since: Dec, 2009
#12: Feb 22nd 2011 at 9:57:22 AM

the way I see it, the men would try to make up for their small stature by being ambitious while the women would be better known for the heavy lifting. Also, during wars, the armies would probably be split fairly well in the gender department but with men on the frontlines while the women handle the heavy artillery.

edited 22nd Feb '11 9:57:34 AM by SandJosieph

breadloaf Since: Oct, 2010
#13: Feb 22nd 2011 at 11:18:41 AM

There are societies that exist today in which women are stronger than men. It mostly occurs in agrarian societies in which technology is limited. In this case, the women are the primary breadwinners (through farming) and men are mostly for the more exotic foods (meat via hunting). Humanity in this case is much stronger because of the physical labour involved. I think the existence of these societies should break the mentality that "women are weaker", and in any case, in those societies, it is a commonly held belief that "women are stronger" and it would be ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

If you're merely switching the roles of men/women in modern tech-advanced western societies (or tech-advanced eastern societies) then the difference would be basically nothing.

EDIT: I would suggest trying to look up some anthropology resources online. I found those societies inside of an anthro textbook, so I personally don't remember their names.

edited 22nd Feb '11 11:21:35 AM by breadloaf

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