I've heard a theory (which may be outdated) that sexism is actually a form of population control. Cultures that actually want to maximize their numbers of male warriors would indeed try to protect their women for purposes of childbearing. Instead, we see female infanticide, which limits the potential for population growth. Warfare eventually reduces the population of young males so that you don't see a bunch of restless bachelors.
That sounds like a more logical route, yeah. Or have the "segregation" but by warrior/not than male/female and children.** spoiler omitted **
Perhaps that in the case of a genocide of females of a monster species, then 50% of the males spontaneously change genders to ensure species survival -- similar to frogs.
Easy, they just don't lead them so much.
|
That reminds me of Dragon Age, actually. That's basically how Qunari work.
Warriors are men. Always. If you are female, and you are a fighter, then you are a man.
There are a good number of men with female sexual characteristics in the Qunari army.
That's how most other cultures would see it. However it's less that the warrior women are taking on a male identity, and more that the culture doesn't have gender identity. Instead of raising males to be warriors, and females to be homemakers, and accepting that some females will take on a male role, they just teach all the kids to fight and the ones that are good at it are the honoured warriors while the ones that aren't get stuck with domestic duties. Children are typically raised by their nearest noncombatant relatives, male and female. I'm only using the gender terms at the moment to reflect the in-world misunderstanding of the concept by outsiders (including the PCs).
Female Orcs look masculine?
Mine do, especially those with a warrior role. If I'm writing my own orc culture I feel no need to make it consistent with every bit of cheesecake art out there. The picture you linked might be appropriate for a half-orc in my world.