In Praise of Good Women

I spend a lot of time here pointing out the stupid and evil things that some women (and men) do, and defending men from what I think is unfair treatment. Every once in a while I like offer a reminder that I appreciate good women.

If you poke around male-oriented websites, you can find some where the blogger or, more likely, some of the regular commenters express their dislike or hatred of women as a group. Now, I can agree that a man should be very cautious about trusting a woman - as people in general seem to be getting less trustworthy these days, and our culture generally enables bad behavior in women at the expens of men. I can understand frustration with the current climate between the sexes. But I can't go along with a general dislike of women.

I love women. I love my wife and many things about her and what she does. I love my mother and my sisters. None of these women are perfect, but that's okay. I love my daughter... who is too young to be a woman. I've had some great female coworkers and bosses who have become friends. I had some great women teachers. One of my most favorite singers is a woman. I appreciate the commentary and entertainment provided by women such as Dr. Laura, Tammy Bruce, and Ann Coulter.

Some women have made remarkable contributions to the world as wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, soldiers, leaders, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and more. Women literally have a different way of analyzing the world around them and literally think differently, and that is often a valuable thing.

Women bring so much beauty to the world in may ways. I make no apologies for finding the female form to be captivating. Some (heterosexual) guys say they are happier not looking at or thinking about it at all. Just as I don't say marriage is right for them, they shouldn't say they know I'd be happier never admiring or thinking about the female form. They probably are happier never thinking about the beauty of women. But even if I wasn't married, I know I wouldn't be happier never thinking about the beauty of women.

I'm not saying that I think it is OK to leer at women or drool over provocative nude imagery. (Nor am I saying that women are only good as bodies.) But I could stare at my wife all day, and there's nothing wrong with a man admiring the form of a woman who walks by his line of sight, no more so than admiring a doe or a sunset. Sure, we have been marred by sin and admiration can quickly cross over into sinful lusting. There are worse sins, and women really shouldn't make a big deal about it if they catch the man in their life looking at a centerfold.

So while some men declare they would love an existence without having to interact with women, and some of those men look forward to the day when technology will make sex dolls (masturbation dolls, really) almost indistinguishably lifelike in their look, sound & speaking, smell & taste, feel, movement, and behavior - customized to the man's every minute idealized preference – I'm glad I have my wife, flaws and all.