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Chivalry Let us examine this topic. In this day and age, is the practice of being chivalrous to women something that is now frowned upon by society? The more I think about it, the more I think that Dave Chappelle, the comedian was absolutely right: "All you women in the audience are nodding now but lemme tell y'all something. Chivalry IS dead...and women killed it." Why do I believe this? Simple. In the past, a man being chivalrous, that is, basically acting more polite to women for no other reason than because they were women was a commonly accepted practice. It was an indication of the mindset of society at the time, that women were weaker than men and needed to be afforded more care. As pig-headed as that might have sounded, back then, and even now, it was TRUE. For the most part, the bodies of women were smaller than that of men and generally, were weaker. That's not to say that there weren't any exceptions to that rule because, quite obviously, there were...it's just that for the most part, it was truth. That fact lead to a rise in a new kind of thinking. That women, more so than men, should be accorded a sort of preferential treatment in order to make up for this mostly common deficiency. Women were treated with deference. A whole system of behaviour revolved around this and changed all the laws of common behaviour. Then came the rise of the feminist movement. Women, tired of the way they were treated, demanded change. So no longer were women confined to the household and no longer were they barred from jobs based on ascription alone. Now, they were considered for the jobs based on their achievements. With that change...they wanted more. Now, all the old codes of behaviour that indicated a deference shown to women was twisted into a new light, that it was now indicative of a male mind that believed that the female couldn't take care of themself. However, is it wrong to think that way? They're the vestiges of a long gone sociological behavoural process and they're damned hard to change just on the whim of some women who misinterpret the gesture from one of respect and courtesy to one of condescending horseshit. Get this, one time, I was getting off the bus at the station and on the way into the station itself, I noticed that there was a chick coming up maybe three to four steps behind me so when I got to the door, I held it open and waited for a bit. Now, let me tell you something. If it was a guy in her place, unless he was RIGHT behind me, I wouldn't hold the door for him. Why? Why? I dunno. Just the way I am...but seeing as how it was a chick...a sorta creepy looking gothic, punkrock chick; but a chick nonetheless, I held open the door and waited for her to step through. She stops in place and starts fucking BITCHING at me for all she's worth. Going on and on about, "oh, just cause I'm a girl you don't think I can hold open my own fucking doors? The fuck is wrong with you? Stupid chauvinistic male pigs..." and ON and ON and ON, and fuck, the bitch just wouldn't stop. So when I could finally get in a word edgewise, I just laid it on straight. I said to her, "Look, I was just doing it to be polite but if you don't want me to, that's just fine with me." I stepped through, and just left. Honestly, the FUCK is up with that? While the idea of feminism is admirable and all, when it gets to the point where common gestures of politeness and courtesy are blown so out of proportion...then it becomes a problem. Back in the second last year of high school, there was a friend who lived sort of nearby. Now, for a reason that I still can't figure out, the first time I saw her on the bus on the way home, I took her home. I don't know why I did it and I still don't. We passed my stop still talking and at the next one, she looked around and asked, " hey, wasn't that your stop?" I nodded and just kept going. I got off when she did, walked her to her door, a walk of about three minutes and walked home. Why did I do it? I don't know. I just felt compelled, I felt responsible for her. I know that nothing would happen to her in that short 3 minute walk but I felt the need to do it anyways. She couldn't understand why I did it and neither could her brother but I felt like I HAD to...it's sort of hard to put into words. But now, I'm beginning to wonder if the time for chivalry in this society is no more. The majority of women don't really seem to appreciate it too much and I tend to be regarded in a strange light by other guys -.- What is so disagreeable about the spirit of chivalry that causes women to be so against it? Yes, I'm well aware that the chances of something bad happening on the way home is slim. But that does nothing to alleviate my sense of concern. How manby people have disagreed with my actions or wondered as to my motives? Friends, family, none of them understand. Sigh...maybe I should just give it all up...no one seems to care anyways... -.- |