I am in favor of equality or parity between genders. But I would reject laws like Island just published - equal salaries for both. There are biological differences, which can make man or woman work better or worse in some areas. Salary should not be influenced by a possibility of having child though.
As for verbal battles, I have found it is necessary to learn to fight them. And it is alright. A better will be chosen and the worse will get an experience and some sort of motivation to improve. After all, it is how Darwin's theory works...