Quick Hit: Should Chivalry Be Stopped?
A new feminist study shows that chivalric behavior is sexist and should be stopped immediately.
I am a feminist. I also like men to be chivalrous, kind to women and open doors before I walk through them. It’s polite; it’s manly and it’s darn bloody sexy. So you can imagine my surprise when I came across a new feminist study the other day, which claimed that chivalry should be banned and that men who practise it are guilty of so-called benevolent sexism.
Say what!? Yep, according to the study, titled Seeing the Unseen, carried out by psychologists Janet Swim (of Pennsylvania State University) and Julia Becker (of Philipps-University Marburg, Germany), men who open doors for women are guilty of sexist behaviour and they should be stopped immediately.
Interesting, because I thought chivalry was dead.
I don’t know about this one. Tim opens doors for me, but not because I can’t do it myself. He does it because he wants to show that he respects me. I wonder if intent matters in situations like this? I don’t know, but I do think chivalry as a sign of respect is a-ok with me!
What do you think? Should chivalry be stopped?
The simple solution is chivalry for ladies but treat feminists like men. That is give them the same level of courtesy and consideration that men get, no more, no less. Rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t do it for a man, don’t do it for a feminist, be it hold a door open, allow her to exit the elevator first, or stop on the roadside to fix a flat. On the other hand, chivalry should continue for ladies who prefer it, which is most of them.