What did boromir do in rivendell?

[jallanite]

Originally Posted by Belegorn

If it were so sexist I'd say there would be ONLY kings which there weren't.

See the discussion of sexism at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism . A system in which females are mostly denied rulership allowed to males would be by almost everyone be called a sexist system. Protest all you want. It will remain a sexist system. Similarly a system in which rulers must be from a particular class will be a class system, despite the occasional exception.

Tolkien wrote his Middle-earth stories set in a prehistoric world largely modelled on historic medieval Europe which was also sexist. There are arguments that there are reasons for this, even good reasons, why female rulers were recognized only when the male line failed. That doesn’t make the practice non-sexist. It may indicate that it was, at least in origin, a practical solution to the problems of choosing a ruler.

I believe there are more women than men in the real world. I also believe without the consent of men women would have less rights than they do today.

Similarly laws against slavery exist with the consent of the majority of non-slaves, and laws giving full rights to gay folk exist with the consent of the majority of straight people, and laws allowing full rights to the handicapped exist with the consent of most of the able-bodied.

Rights are often given only with the permission of those who are not part of the group to which the rights were given. What import does that have?

I do wonder if the sexes are equal why women should ever be treated as lesser than men being half and usually most of the population. Personally I do not believe in equality. I think some people are better than others.

Scarcely anyone believes in equality you are talking about in societies in which contests between people over physical and intellectual superiority are so important. Democracy does not depend on equality but about a contest in which a number of people try to obtain the most votes to rule or to become one of the rulers. Few would be so dishonest as to say that all voters are equal in their discrimination in casting their vote.

Back to Tolkien, Galadriel was the equal of Feanor who was seen as the greatest of the Children of Illuvatar.

I have not checked everything Tolkien wrote on the matter, but I doubt this is true. No-where is it even suggested that Galadriel was equal to Fëanor as a craftsman and it is often indicated that Galadriel was probably less possessive than Fëanor. People are different in different ways. No one person is the exact equal of another, if you mean the exact equivalent.

Though with Elves there was not much difference in physical ability between the sexes whereas in our world men are about 30% stronger than women physically. So is there sexism or women not knowing their place? I'm not sure.

Suppose men were, on the average 50% stronger than women? What does that have to do with the right to rule? We no longer choose even the physically strongest man to rule. Perhaps only professional, male, athletes should be allowed to enter politics and they should fight one another in an arena.

I like women even those like Penthesilia but even the daughter of Ares was no match for Achilles.

It is doubtful that either Achilles or Penthesilia ever existed. This imaginary story can only be used to indicate the attitudes of those who wrote it, not reality. If you want a genuine warrior woman, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_I_of_Caria .

I can't see an army of women in the thick of battle where the men are perhaps just nurses or non-combatants. Obviously, people not being equal there are some women who're more suited for battle than men. There are always some things that make me wonder about these differences like war, philosophizing, birthing humans, etc.[/quote]

Stories of Amazons may also be untrue, but it is only your personal beliefs that indicate that the story of Achillles and Penthesilia is any more true.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_military and other real sources which may help you in your wonderings.