The “protecting women” myth

The pattern is convenient: an extra guarantee for women is a correction of injustice. An extra duty for men is simply normal.

One sex gains another protection. The other gains another risk. Both measures can still be described as progress toward equality.

The test is simple.

Reverse the sexes

If a rule protects women, imagine the same rule protecting men.

If a rule obligates men, imagine the same obligation imposed on women.

If the judgment changes only because the sex changed, the rule uses a double standard, not a neutral principle.

Equality cannot mean “extra guarantee for women, extra duty for men” and remain equality by vocabulary alone.