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FM
Former Member

There's been reports and features on the news all week, about how 'sexist' chivalry is...  (apparently...)  and how it's so outdated now.  A man opening a door for a lady is sexist, and is now seen as being chauvenistic, and offering to carry her bags implies she is weak, and don't even dare to compliment her on her cooking, because it suggests that cooking is 'her' job! 

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com...xist/article2062654/

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rel...inists-conclude.html

 

Personally, I think it's a bit daft.  I regularly open the door for men, and they open them for me, and I have helped a woman carry her baby in its pushcair up a flight of stairs, and I have offered to help a man do the same.  There should be no such thing as it being 'wrong' to help or compliment someone surely?.......

 

Is men helping women and offering to be polite actually sexist?  And is men offering to do stuff for women, making women 'accept a subservient role?'?  Or is this a silly feminist rant which should be laughed at?  Surely, politeness and kindness can NEVER be wrong or sexist?'  Do you ladies on here resent men helping?  or does it depend how they ask/offer?  And the men on here, do you offer to be chivalrous?  Or are you afraid it will be misconstrued as being sexist?

 

Opinions anyone?  (From men and women of course..... )

 

 

Replies sorted oldest to newest

 Good manners cost nothing and are beyond worth.  A genuine compliment can light up someone's day, small acts of kndness can lift the spirits of both the giver and receiver - as my mum says "It's nice to be nice" ....

 

PC has its place but it's important to keep a sense of perspective and a lot of this stuff is deliberately disingenuous to provoke a reaction *shrugs* I like people being nice to me - it makes me feel good - and I've never even learned how to spell substerviant.  Bring back chivalry I say! 

Starfleet Admiral hoochie

I feel there should be common sense in everything

I DO miss some tradtional values

I DON'T miss old sexist values

 

But i see so many women that can't cook anything - and have never ironed when men have been criticised for these things for years.

Perhaps the focus of "rights" has been lost.

I often wonder WHY all the darts players on TV are men - and why there is no mixed sex snooker.

Why are women MP's so hugely out numbered by men even today?

Surely this should be the focus of our energy . .  a woman's place in our society and not door opening.

 

Blimey  - i got serious just then !!!

 

 

Saint
Originally Posted by Renton:

I feel there should be common sense in everything

I DO miss some tradtional values

I DON'T miss old sexist values

 

But i see so many women that can't cook anything - and have never ironed when men have been criticised for these things for years.

Perhaps the focus of "rights" has been lost.

I often wonder WHY all the darts players on TV are men - and why there is no mixed sex snooker.

Why are women MP's so hugely out numbered by men even today?

Surely this should be the focus of our energy . .  a woman's place in our society and not door opening.

 

Blimey  - i got serious just then !!!

 

 

Huh?   I don't think the main focus of those fighting for female rights is door opening

Temps
Originally Posted by Temps:
Originally Posted by Croctacus:
Ian Collins said on that radio last night that if any woman queries him holding a door open he'll her he's not doing it because she is a lady but because he is a gentleman.

Excellent  

there is a quote from oscar wilde who, when opening a door for a lady is rebuked and he replies he is not opening the door because she is a lady but because he is a gentleman

machel
Originally Posted by machel:
Originally Posted by Temps:
Originally Posted by Croctacus:
Ian Collins said on that radio last night that if any woman queries him holding a door open he'll her he's not doing it because she is a lady but because he is a gentleman.

Excellent  

there is a quote from oscar wilde who, when opening a door for a lady is rebuked and he replies he is not opening the door because she is a lady but because he is a gentleman

I always say 'you're welcome you're Royal Highness' and hope they sense the tone

Temps
Originally Posted by Temps:
Originally Posted by Renton:

I feel there should be common sense in everything

I DO miss some tradtional values

I DON'T miss old sexist values

 

But i see so many women that can't cook anything - and have never ironed when men have been criticised for these things for years.

Perhaps the focus of "rights" has been lost.

I often wonder WHY all the darts players on TV are men - and why there is no mixed sex snooker.

Why are women MP's so hugely out numbered by men even today?

Surely this should be the focus of our energy . .  a woman's place in our society and not door opening.

 

Blimey  - i got serious just then !!!

 

 

Huh?   I don't think the main focus of those fighting for female rights is door opening

TEMPS you stupid bloody woman - heh heh!!

I was just responding to the article from the OP

Saint

I was brought up to have good manners and have brought up my kids, both boys and girls, to do the same. I don't check out the sex of the person I'm holding the door open for. If a man held the door open for me and said, "Ladies first", it might make me grind my teeth a little, but it's better than, "Shit before the shovel"!

 

I think the real problem comes with casually sexist attitudes, when both sexes assume that something is a 'man's job', or a 'woman's job'. We certainly mix it up a bit, in our household, so our kids may feel that shopping is a man's job, and most of the cooking, but putting the bins out is mummy's job!

Blizz'ard
Originally Posted by Mount Olympus *Olly*:
Originally Posted by Croctacus:
Ian Collins said on that radio last night that if any woman queries him holding a door open he'll her he's not doing it because she is a lady but because he is a gentleman.

liking this ^^^

 

am all for manners from both sexes. . it's got nowt to do with rights just common courtesy

I like this too - more manners all round

SazBomb
Originally Posted by Renton:

Having said that . . . .

 

I DO get the feeling that women prefer men who are capable and protective.

I DO get the feeling that men like to be looked after.

 

Do you lot get that feeling too?


I like being looked after and knowing that my man would protect me if needs be BUT he also knows that I look after him in other ways.  I rarely cook for him (doesn't like most of the things I cook.....the swine!) and he does all his own washing and ironing (I can't remember the last time I ironed something) but he never has to worry about household things, kids things or bills because I look after all that.  So we probably DO live quite an old fashioned lifestyle...me at home doing all the house stuff and him at work.  Although I do all the decorating and he does quite a bit of cleaning   Happy enough with that!

 

But back to the main topic......I think it costs nothing for a person to hold a door open or help something with heavy bags wether they're male, female, old or young. 

Ells
Originally Posted by SazBomb:
Originally Posted by Mount Olympus *Olly*:
Originally Posted by Croctacus:
Ian Collins said on that radio last night that if any woman queries him holding a door open he'll her he's not doing it because she is a lady but because he is a gentleman.

liking this ^^^

 

am all for manners from both sexes. . it's got nowt to do with rights just common courtesy

I like this too - more manners all round

Yep, there's an old saying my mam used to quote at me - manners maketh man 

FM
Originally Posted by Blizz'ard:

 but it's better than, "Shit before the shovel"!

 

Or, "Age before beauty!"

 

Common courtesy probably could have stopped a few wars.

 

I'm still amazed when I ride the bus and see young folks determinedly keeping their seats while little old ladies stand. And, even though I am now of the age where young men with manners give up their seats for me (just BARELY that age, though ), I often get up myself and give my seat to an older person.

 

But then, poor manners is pretty much in evidence every day, isn't it?

Lori
Originally Posted by Lori:
Originally Posted by Blizz'ard:

 but it's better than, "Shit before the shovel"!

 

Or, "Age before beauty!"

 

 

Oh yes, that's what I meant! 

 

I used to get the tube to work and would always give up my seat for elderly men or women, but I'd have to be careful that some younger idiot wouldn't sneak in behind me, as soon as I'd stood up to offer it!  

Blizz'ard

This is a perfect example of the "Old school" approach to society - against the " new Age" approach. Values are not taught in today's society -there lies the problem. Some youngsters would rather mug you than open a door or give up their seat on a bus/Train. This is the " New Age" of today which we all went through back in the 60s/70s  back then though we did not think of ourselves as replicas of " Muttha F***ers"  wanting to blow yer brains out . However hard or infamous folk try to be- remember there are others that have been there and done that---- and it may come back to haunt one day..... Just mind who you mess with

FM
Originally Posted by Lori:
Originally Posted by Blizz'ard:

 but it's better than, "Shit before the shovel"!

 

Or, "Age before beauty!"

 

Common courtesy probably could have stopped a few wars.

 

I'm still amazed when I ride the bus and see young folks determinedly keeping their seats while little old ladies stand. And, even though I am now of the age where young men with manners give up their seats for me (just BARELY that age, though ), I often get up myself and give my seat to an older person.

 

But then, poor manners is pretty much in evidence every day, isn't it?

That irritates me so much when I see an older person standing and young people sitting down....I have to say though it's not a very common thing...almost as soon as an old person gets on the bus, they're offered a seat and more often than not they reply 'oh dear do I look that old'

Temps

Never mind outdated notions of chivalry. In my book, it's just called manners.

I'm female and I would never let a door slam in anyone's face, whatever their gender.

| always offer my seat on public transport if I see someone standing who needs it more than me (be they doddery or young and heavily preggers).

To me, not holding a door open or offering your seat is the height of rudeness and has nothing to do with sexism.

Demantoid

I have to say: I don't think I know anyone who would be annoyed at a man being courteous and polite...  LOL.  Who ARE these people?  Do people actually get annoyed at this?!  I love being treated like a lady and being called love or sweetheart and having men regard me as feminine.  In fact, I love being female.   

 

One thing does annoy me though, is when I hold the door open and they don't even acknowledge me, let alone thank me.  It's usually a lone middle aged woman, or a young mum with a pushchair - yet men ALWAYS thank me and are more courteous than women in general, when I am up town or in public in general.  It's almost as if 'some' women expect people to do it for them.

 

One thing I did last summer.........: me and my daughters were on a train from Chester to Birmingham, and it was PACKED, and this lass who looked about 6 months pregnant, got on about half way through the journey with her 2 kids and fella (hubby maybe?) and there were no seats.. (They had a baby and a kiddie of about 5.)  And they looked really pissed off that there was no seats...  in fact, the girl looked close to tears.  So I said to my girls (theyre teens and I am 46,) 'lets give them our seats.' Nobody and I mean NOBODY was moving...., it was like 'NO this is MY seat, and I am NOT budging!'  My kids grumbled a bit, but I said we can stand up near the doorways and we are halfway through the journey.  I said to the man; here you go, you can have our three seats,,, and he said 'when are you getting off?  Soon?' and I said 'no, not for about 45 minutes, but it doesn't matter...'  He nudged the lady with him and whispered something to her, (after we had got up,.) She sat down in one seat, he had another seat with the baby on his lap and the 5 year old had another.  She thanked us and asked if we're sure we didnt mind..

 

We had to sit on the floor for 45 minutes LOL, but it did feel good being a good citizen. 

 

 *disclaimer* not ALL young mums and middle aged women are ungrateful and ignorant ; most are fine, but if someone IS rude and ignorant, it is almost always a young mum or a middle aged woman.  Still, the majority ARE OK 

 

FM
Originally Posted by Demantoid:

 

| always offer my seat on public transport if I see someone standing who needs it more than me (be they doddery or young and heavily preggers).

 

I had that horrible wondering of whether a woman was pregnant or just a bit on the large side the other morning (she did have a loose top on too) and I didn't offer my seat for fear of offending. When people got off at the next stop, she sat down and I could tell then she was pregnant - I felt really guilty, but I'm so scared of getting it wrong and making someone cry... or thump me

SazBomb
Originally Posted by Temps:

That irritates me so much when I see an older person standing and young people sitting down....I have to say though it's not a very common thing...almost as soon as an old person gets on the bus, they're offered a seat and more often than not they reply 'oh dear do I look that old'

That was pretty  much my reaction the first time it happened to me.

 

and Saz, just cuz you offer your seat to someone doesn't put the mark of "preggers" or "I think you're preggers" on her.

Lori

Those reports are very misrepresentative of the experiments. For anyone who is interested, the full text is here and as far as I can see, there is not one single mention of opening doors! The measures of 'benevolent' sexism used were:

Benevolent Sexist Incidents

 1. Observed a man helping a woman with a task because he assumed that, as a woman, she should not have to grapple with it (e.g., long drive, selection of a new laptop, carrying shopping bags)

2.Heard someone compliment a woman, because she exhibited behavior he or she assumed was an ability particularly well suited and appropriate for women (e.g., compliment how skillful she cared for her child as a woman or how well she cooked dinner for her family as a woman).

3. Observed a man acting chivalrous toward a woman because he thought that women needed special attention although she said she didn’t need this special treatment (e.g., by insisting on paying for her dinner, by insisting on bringing her home


I've have bolded what I consider to be the emphasis, which, interestingly, was not mentioned in those reports above!

FM

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