If your gender had a long history of suffering rape, spousal abuse, smaller incomes for the same job (as in a man earning five times what Susan B. Anthony earned, not even necessarily the modern pay gap that's hard to quantify,) loss of all assets in a divorce, and complete subjugation on an epidemic and hegemonic level, you'd want a government to enforce your rights, too.
With regard to government, it's not the size; it's how you use it.