Women are smaller and weaker. Decades of trying to make men and women equals hasn't changed that fact. You don't hit women for the same reason you don't hit little kids, because the little kid can't actually hurt you but you can actually hurt him. Obviously it becomes a judgement call, if said "little kid" is six foot foor and three hundred pounds or said woman is Muhammed Ali's daughter you do what you have to do same as you would vs any man but the reason you don't hit women is because you're a lot more dangerous to them than vice versa.
Now being fair the smaller and weaker people in a civilized society have an obligation not to fuck with people who could break them without effort because the only reason they are walking around unbroken is because the bigger and stronger ALLOW it but once you start getting into that there is a lot of nuance to go into.
Now being fair the smaller and weaker people in a civilized society have an obligation not to fuck with people who could break them without effort because the only reason they are walking around unbroken is because the bigger and stronger ALLOW it but once you start getting into that there is a lot of nuance to go into.