If women shouldn't have to defend themselves, why did women in the Elizabethan era and Victorian era carry weapons? Most women in the Elizabethan era especially the nobles, had a dagger or dirk hidden on their person. Victorian women carried the same edged weapons but also had what was known as a 'Muff Gun" so called because it was small enough to hide handily in the lady's hand warming muff that were so popular in those days.
There's evidence that Greek and Roman women were armed. I am sure as soon as they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve armed themselves.
