[rlmorel]

I have always felt that women, in consort with men (in a family type of structure) are a positive and “civilizing” influence, in that they bring out the best in men.

Also true, in my opinion, is that women on their own can be just as venal and corrupt as men.

[DuncanWaring]

Venal and corrupt? The Female of the Species is more deadly than the male.

[PapaBear3625]

I have always felt that women, in consort with men (in a family type of structure) are a positive and “civilizing” influence, in that they bring out the best in men.

It's more like a man will choose to become civilized in order to attract and hold onto a good woman, and have children he is sure are his.

Take away the rewards of being civilized, and men will eventually cease to value civilization. If marriage turns into Russian Roulette, where the guy stands to lose his assets and his children at whatever point the wife decides she's "unfulfilled" and needs to "find herself" (with a succession of bad boys), and men will lose interest in marriage.

Women are also fooling themselves about the rewards of a career, thinking they can postpone marriage and kids until they are in their thirties, and a good man will come along at whatever point the woman decides she's ready. I got news for the ladies: men will not be attracted to your career as much as you think they will.

I think a good percentage of thirty-something men (perhaps most) would be more attracted to a 22-year old waitress who is pretty, in good shape, has an affectionate personality, and has a high libido than to a thirty-something executive who has none of the above qualities.

[Bigg Red]

This woman agrees on both points.

[ArrogantBustard]

Also true, in my opinion, is that women on their own can be just as venal and corrupt as men.

What women lack in the capacity for the direct physically brutal violence of which men are capable, they make up for with their own capacity for viciousness, backstabbing, and dishonesty. Kipling was wrong; the "female of the species" is not more deadly (as a direct, unconstrained confrontation will show) ... just different. At their worst, men and women alike can be spectacularly ugly. It's called "original sin". Pick up a Bible and read all about it.

Civilisation (IMO) is the result of cooperative action between men and women (individually and in larger groups) trying to minimize the bad and accentuate the good. The so-called "battle of the sexes" is a direct assault on civilisation.