i read awhile ago that in the muslim teaching it is Right for a man to pysically hit anything of lower "chaste" eg Children, cattle, Woman or just lower class ,

this shocked me at first, then it got me thinking that only about 30 years ago it was seen as Okay in our culture (even biblical) to do just the same, and many believe it still is okay.(for children if not adults)
Only resently has it become out lawed to pysically chaste your wife if she has done something wrong, or to physically beat crimanals if you were a cop. It seem the use of inflicting pain and fear as a form of punishment/chastment was acceptable if you were in authority over a person,