I think if the over all odds are balanced in a male /female altercation then women can hold their own. Most women can not hold their own because of their poor physical conditioning not just being female and smaller.

At least that was true when I was in my top condition. I regularly kicked butt when matched inch for inch and pound for pound male or female when I was 5'8" 38-26-36 and 148. Of course my assets, under my assets, were highly developed being a farm kid, and avid hunter, and living in a very tough environment.

I am going to take the whole birthing a baby argument off the table. I can tell you from having several kids; including no drugs, long labor, feet first, forcepts and several hands up their pulling a good size child out is NOTHING compared to some of the injuries I have had that are similar to combat injuries.

I am also disqualifying the fitness of women for combat until I see equal standards for women versus men. I have long said and competed with men under men's standards not skewed "pink" ones is the only true standard for fitness for duty. But as long as you pick sweet little middle class (usually second generation military) female applicants for military service rather then the tougher and more combat worthy applicants you are going to have an apples to oranges comparison. Think how many 99 pound weaklings wash out?

Also ask the combat soldiers that have close contact in country exchanges with female opponents say about who they would have to deal with in combat, handle as hostages, or try to get intel out of? The I think the answers would be less macho. Maybe cultural differences exist in more current wars but the Viet Era solders and older that I have had contact with not only respected female opponents but feared them.

That's great. Just keep it in their bedroom.