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As a society we have been conditioned to believe that men are the “protectors.”
Every debate online is about men being the “providers and protectors.”
It’s interesting because history tells a different story. History tells us that both men and women were hunters and gatherers. That both were protectors.
Women have always been protectors, especially of their children. And today’s modern women both provide and protect. It’s a misogynistic viewpoint or myth to think differently. And given that the largest demographic, men, women, and children need protection from is men, is it not then an oxymoron that those we are told are meant to “protect” us are the same people we need protection from?
Real men, those with emotional intelligence, a love and respect for women, understand that women are the epitome of a protector and that doesn’t need to take anything away from the good men who are also protectors. These good men don’t feel threatened or insecure to share these roles.
Women are strong and resilient and most would put their own life on the line if it meant protecting their child or another loved one. And understand, I am not making this a competition; on the contrary, I’m pointing out facts that women are as much a protector as men.
On Sunday 14th December 2025 in Bondi, Sydney, Australia, another incredibly brave woman became the epitome of a protector. When two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish family event, chaos ensued. People were running everywhere, children scattered and parents scrambled to grab hold of their kids in the face of terrifying fear and panic. Jessica Rozen, a pregnant mother, was desperately trying to find her three-year-old child amongst the mayhem. As she ran around, she saw another young child screaming for her mum, standing in the line of fire, with wounded and dead nearby. What Jessica did next was an incredible act of bravery and selflessness. She grabbed that child and lay on top of them, protecting them from harm. She used her body to shield a stranger’s child. In an interview, Jessica expressed she wasn’t a hero, simply a mum and any mum would protect a distressed child. Thankfully, her own child was safe and unharmed.
This woman expressed this so succinctly: “I’m simply a mum and any mum would have done the same thing.”
On this same day, in this same horrid event, there was another hero. A young 14-year-old girl, Chaya Dadon. Chaya was there, like many others enjoying the festivities. When the shooting commenced she took cover under a bench. She saw two children stranded out in the open, beside their wounded parents. This young schoolgirl left the safety of her shelter, pulled the children toward her, jumped on them, covering their bodies with her own, sustaining a gunshot wound to the thigh in the midst of protecting someone else’s children. In an interview, she said she channelled all her fear into protecting the children. A remarkable girl and an absolute protector and hero.
Of course there were many heroes on that day, including Ahmed Al-Ahmed and others, some alive and some tragically killed. Both men and women showing their courage as protectors, but in a society that so often ignores or rubbishes women’s strength, courage, resilience, and protective instincts, I wanted to call it out. Recognise these incredible women and the women who every day protect their loved ones.
I know there will be the usual harsh critics who will jump on social media and call me a feminist, misandrist, or worse. I will be given examples of all the male protectors. I will be told that women don’t have the same physical strength as men and that without men we wouldn’t survive. I will be told without men the world wouldn’t function.
And I say to the closed-minded and ignorant, who like to project their insecurities and hatred, that two things can be true at the same time. That both men and women can protect. I’d say feminism is about equality and any man who doesn’t want that dislikes women and is threatened by women. I’d say that misandry is more often a reaction to toxic masculinity, men who don’t see women as equal or at times even as human. And I’d point out to the angry that a healthy masculine man who loves, respects, and wants equality is a beautiful and desired man, who is a real protector. I’d say to them that it’s biology that men usually have the ability to build muscle and strength far greater than women, but that doesn’t negate the fact that women put their lives and bodies on the line to protect their loved ones. I’d point out that the world would also cease to function without women since we are the ones who carry and birth children, and there’s a reason women were chosen to do this, because quite frankly most men would never be able to do it, and any secure man that has watched their partner birth their child knows this. And lastly, I shout from the rooftops that given the horrendous statistics of men abusing, being violent toward, and killing women and children, the reason we need protectors is to protect against our biggest predator. Man.
And of course it’s not all men. And yes, it can also be women. But the overwhelming majority of abuse and violence come from men. That is a fact. The two Bondi shooters were men. Again, it’s not a p*ssing competition because the truth is both men and women are protectors. And as the nurturers, it’s in our biology to protect our young, our tribe.
Throughout the animal kingdom, it’s the same story. Wolf packs, previously thought to be led by a dominant “alpha” male, are in fact led by a breeding pair, male and female. The “alpha” male wolf concept came from studies of captive, unrelated wolves, creating unnatural hierarchies and has since been debunked. Whilst lions are known for their strength, it’s the lioness who does most of the work. The “king of the jungle” actually lives in prides ruled by females. Elephants are also female led. Orcas, also known as killer whales, are one of the ocean’s top predators. They too live in a matriarchal society. And, of course, bees are matriarchal. To name but a few. Natural leaders and protectors can be and are females.
Whilst men, as mentioned, are often physically stronger and many are protectors, the belief that men’s only roles are to lead, provide, protect, and that they alone hold these roles, is nothing but a made up concept, created within the patriarchy. It’s nothing but conditioning, and it’s destructive. Both men and women can lead. Can provide. Can protect. And can nurture. Indeed, it happens everyday. Limiting our thinking and putting these conditions on the roles both men and women should have has done nothing but cause harm and continues to cause harm. Look at the increase in domestic violence. The tragic number of women being killed by their partners or ex-partners, and devastatingly sometimes this includes the children. Look at the increasing volume of sexual assaults. And finally, the male suicide rate is far too high. These are not signs of a healthy society.
Women throughout the times have been protectors and have led families and communities. Throughout the centuries, independent, strong women who were leaders were feared and burnt at the stake, believed to be “witches” for their strength and choosing to go against the patriarchy. Weak and insecure men will always be threatened by women and try to tear them down, if not hurt or kill them. How can we possibly say that men are “protectors” with the history we can reflect on? Aah, I hear you say, not all men are weak, insecure, abusive, or violent. This is true, and conversely not all men are protectors, which has been proven time and time again.
So throughout the years, women have displayed their ability to protect. Certain animal kingdoms are led and protected by females. It’s not new, and shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows women, that our innate instinct is to protect. Having been raised from a young age that we need to be vigilant for our safety and protect ourselves from rape, abuse, and violence, we have learned what protection means, and we fiercely protect our loved ones. Again, this is not suggesting we need to protect ourselves or our children from all men, but please understand we don’t know who is a predator and who isn’t.
So, next time you see the comment “men are protectors and providers,” remember women are too. And that doesn’t discount that men also protect because both are true.
And in 2026 we need to start recognising that women protect their loved ones every day. Nurturing. Loving. Holding. Teaching. Growing. Leading. Providing for and protecting. These are human skills, not something to be gendered. And women do these every day.
Women are indeed the epitome of a protector.
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