as i see it, there's no competition. did you know that in the bible, wisdom is spoken of in the feminine gender? did you every wonder why some presidents have top female advisors ? men have great strength, but often it takes the combination of strength and wits (and sometimes dexterity) to solve a problem. i think men and women should look at each other in terms of what they can help each other with instead of competing.
of course, in the reverse, there are many problems women would be stuck with if it weren't for men helping them. take computers, for instance. it would be pointless for me to have a computer in the house if my husband weren't here. of course, there are many women who are computer literate - but, for me, as long as he's around - my problems are solved (and quite a few others).
people who try to fight nature just end up in an argument with themselves. they remain without decent meals, clean clothes, someone to have a good talk with, and most important to guys (it seems) sex. guys can try to solve other guys problems - but look how good it worked out for the odd couple. it was worse for two guys to try to make a home. i mean, how do you decide who's going to be the one to get on the chair when the cockroach comes around? who's the one who's always going to kill the cockroach? how do they decide these things? will it be an argument each time.
with a girlfriend or wife - you have the advantage of built in talents/ or lack of them. when you know a person's strengths and weaknesses you can use them (and visa-versa) to your advantage. as i see it, if you want lots of sex, treat your wife with respect and never hit a female (whether you are into karate or not). torture isn't what women are about (and never have been). when's the last time you read in the paper about a woman torturing a man? probably only that clip from 10 years ago about some woman cutting a man's'you know what' off. yet, women are often missing, murdered, etc. it seems daily. i suppose that you might bring up the woman who recently murdered her husband (but of the things she tells about him, it's kind of a wonder he lived as long as he did without someone else finding out and doing him in).
to me, the greatest joy of living is seeing my husband happy. when you have peace and tranquility in your home, nothing really gets to you. but, when you have fighting and competing, it seems that life has no point. if there is no one to trust, no one to share your problems with, no one to care - it's just kind of lonely. lonliness isn't something to be ashamed of. i think people were generally created to want to have companionship. i think when people learn how to get along - marriage can be reasurring to anyone's self-worth. it's not a bad thing to be a 'kept man' or 'kept woman.' it just means someone cares enough to look out for you and keep you happier than you'd be alone. i'd marry my husband without any reservations all over again.
ps for those women that take pleasure in cutting a man down - i think they're stupid. and, for men who would say they'd mop the floor with a woman - they're insane. if you went into a jewelry store - would you take the diamonds and do that?