[Carannillion]

I can't do anything but agree with most of you. Tolien was not a sexist.

As mentioned by several others, women generally don't go to war. Of course, there are female soldiers, but not really any significant amount, compared to men.

As for the Entwives, very good point, Gwaihir.

I read somewhere that one of the reasons for Tolkien's not including the women any more than he did - and not embellishing on the love stories (at least not until the end of the book) - was because he would then have had to make more of it (baby-making and stuff). This could have lead to some people feeling offended (literature containing *sex* was considered tacky) [especially in the Aragorn/Arwen thing]. He was simply being careful. Do you want to read a book that's constantly stepping on your toes?

I think Tolkien actually did a great job, including women as best he could. Perhaps you could have done it better - having read it, thought about it, and then reconsidered and stuff. Have any of you done anything you couldn't possibly have done better?

Tolkien rules.