Editorial: Violence not just a male domain

Horses sweat, men perspire and women glow.

A friend of the family told me that when I moaned about my state one day after playing a game of netball.

She was trying to point out that we women are meant to be lady-like characters who certainly wouldn't do anything offensive - such as sweat.

How times have changed.

This week, we reported women in the Bay of Plenty are doing much worse.

It appears women are being convicted for more serious crimes than they were 30 years ago, with a higher percentage of women being convicted for sexual assault, acts intended to cause injury, robbery and extortion, burglary, theft, illicit drugs, weapons, property damage and other offences.

Just look at the track record in our region during the past few years. Lisa Kuka was jailed for the manslaughter of her daughter, Nia Glassie, Orewa Kemp was jailed for shocking abuse of the toddler, two teens - Lori-Lea Waiora Te Wini and Courtney Pauline Churchward - were jailed for killing an Opotiki teacher, Alexandria Ngarimu for mindless kicking and stomping a woman in Rotorua's city centre and Cherylly Campbell for assaulting Countdown staff.

Is it sexist of me to suggest these types of crimes should only be committed by men? Probably.

In an ideal world, no one would commit this type of crime at all - or any crime for that matter.

Top Bay of Plenty lawyer Jonathan Temm has also noticed an increase in the number of women committing violent offences.

Come on women, what's wrong with us? Why are we so stroppy and violent?

Start acting more lady-like and leave the courts and prison cells as a man's place to hang out.