Chiming in again with another point.
Years and years ago I wrote in the X-Files fandom. And here's the thing I remember most about character death stories - we killed off both main characters about equally. Actually, if I had to bet money on it, I'd say that Mulder was killed off far more often than Scully. And it was definitely Mulder who was tortured more often. It's an entire genre - Mulder!Torture. Yes, Scully saw her share of angst and torture (especially on the show), but in the fanfic they were equals.
So, while I see your point about Western culture as whole valuing women as less than men, I just can't buy into it in specific cases. And especially not in this fandom, where Lois is revered and loved and *essential* to everything we do.
Hell, it's not even "Clark and Lois". Lois is first. Which is exactly the way she'd want it.
