Choosing one's level of participation

I was on ZimNet radio discussing women's self defence, and so many people rang in to tell me that I couldn't possibly understand Zimbabwean culture because I was white. They even said I wasn't Zimbabwean, although I was born there. One woman even rang to say that if a man was going to rape his wife, he should be free to do it, as nobody had the right to intervene.

I suspect that all these callers were trying to make me feel angry or exasperated, but I didn't feel that way at all. After all, I am not particularly maternal or caring, I just think it is rational that women should do what they can to raise their status if they want to do so.