Aug 04 2008
Chivalry- Where Did it Go?
I see it everywhere and it truly bothers me- the lack of chivalry. For example, I was standing in a crowded New York City subway car and who should be standing next to me but a quite pregnant woman. Apparently the large amount of guys sitting in the seats saw no reason to get up and offer their seat to her.
Men don’t realize the benefits of chivalry. Not only does it put positive energy out into the world and its just nice to do in general, but it’s a way to get a woman’s attention. Women like men, not boys, and part of being a man is knowing how to treat, and have respect for, women. Personally, if I saw a guy notice that a pregnant woman was standing there and he didn’t offer her his seat, I would completely blow him off if he tried to talk to me. I know I’m not alone in my thought.
So what happened to chivalry? Men used to hold doors open for women, bump into them accidentally and (gasp!) say “I’m sorry. Excuse me.” instead of giving a dirty look. Hell, men used to allow a woman to walk ahead of him through a door instead of trying to beat her through, almost knocking her over. Now granted, not all men forgot the art of chivalry, however, there seem to be too many that don’t even bother with it anymore. I’m telling you guys, a little chivalry can definitely go a long way.
4 Responses to “Chivalry- Where Did it Go?”
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I agree, it is one thing I took for granted when I left the South.
Women’s Lib. That’s what happened to it. “Enlightened” women thirty years ago got mad about a man opening the door for them, or giving up their seat on the subway. since they felt they were as good as men, they didn’t appreciate being looked as “needing help”.
Some of us still look at it as being polite. I have my midwestern mom to thank for that.
Chivalry is from a bygone era when “little ladies” couldn’t and shouldn’t be expected to fend for themselves. Being nice to other people is one thing. Subjugating oneself in the hope of impressing people one doesn’t know is silly.
I agree with you. If a guy is being chivalrous just for the sake of getting attention than that’s ridiculous. That’s like doing a good deed just because you want something in return. Doing something such as holding a door open for a woman and offering a woman your seat isn’t just chivalrous it’s doing something nice in general. As a woman, if I saw an elderly person standing, I’d sure as hell offer him my seat out of respect. Being chivalrous isn’t a man doing something for a woman because he thinks she can’t, it’s doing something nice out of respect even when knowing that she can do it.