How Do You Feel About A Man Hitting A Woman?

I would hit a woman for all the same reasons I would hit a man, a child or an animal. I'm definitely not a violent person, but if I try to defend myself and violence is the only available option I sure as hell will throw a punch or two. Can we finally get over the whole man/woman thing? The whole men are stronger and should protect the weak women is stupid; while usually most men have more physical strength that the average woman, it's not like all men are the hulk while all women are like marry jane.
We're all people and should respect each other, period. Genders only signify our roles during reproduction, every time else we're human beings with all the same needs.