Is it cowardly for a man to dodge or block a woman's slap?

I've heard some women say so, that if a man ever tried to avoid getting slapped, he must be a coward. But why should anyone, male or female, have to take that? It's one thing to see a slap coming from a mile away and avoid going near (that's cowardly), but why should defending oneself from an unforeseen assault be seen as cowardly? I don't condone men hitting women, not even in retaliation; but I also don't think women should abuse that privilege or see it as permission to get physical whenever they get their feelings hurt. What do you folks think?