[Brinniel]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> As they got all the young boys and old men out for battle, I couldn't help but think "What about the women? Surely and 20 year-old woman is a better fighter than a 12 year-old boy?". <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I think the main reason women were not included in the battle also relates to history. Years and years ago, women were thought as weak. It was not their duty to fight, but instead to raise a family. <P>Two hundred years ago, men didn't even consider putting a woman in battle. During the American Revolution, boys as young as thirteen volunteered for the militia and died fighting, but women were not allowed to sign up. Rare it was to see a woman participate in a battle (in fact, I can only think of one account where one did). Fighting was not considered suitable for a woman.<P>Another reason I think women were not involved at the battle of Helm's Deep is because of the fact that most women did have a family to raise. If the father of a child dies, they will still have their mother. But if both their parents died, where would they go? So, in the end the choices are do you want an all men or all women army? Obviously, men were thought stronger, so they were the ones forced to fight.<P>If it helps, there were some female extras playing Uruk Hai...