[Dimaldaeon]

Nobody can accuse Tolkien of being sexist, anyone who has read about Eowyn will tell you this. Also in the film she kicks even more *** (She even beats Aragorn in a duel)
You can't complain that writing about women wasn't one of his strenghts.Tolkien based his writings on mythology, right. Well in mythology women are always given the role of being old and dispensing knowledge, of being young and foolish or of being the scheming one who starts a war for their own gain. Tolkien both expanded on this and changed it. In his writings they were willing to risk everything for their loves. Luthien and Beren (with Beren Playing the lesser part) availed what not even all the elf kingdoms could, she did this for Beren. Most lesser writers would have had Luthien wait in Doriath while Beren alone acomplished the quest.
Tolkien even tried to show the thoughts and feelings of Eowyn at these dark times. Lesser writers would have had Eowyn as a less important character, there only to fall for Aragorn and settle for Faramir when Aragorn was unatainable.Tolkien tried to show that women had to cope with things every bit as much as the men did.
Of course I can't agree with Tolkien on everything. Women and men can remain just friends (even though it's difficult). When I was younger some of my best friends were girls, then my parents sent me to a Catholic all-boys school. (I'll get revenge for that some day)
As for a womens "place". I have to say my sister dose every bit as much (if not more) hard work on the farm as I do. Also the reason why women aren't on a battlefield is because men couldn't bear to see women injured (One monk made it illegal for women to go to war after seeing a woman impailed with a hooked pike through her breast). Men used to waste time trying to save a hopelassly injured woman instead of trying to help a man with a chance of survival.