do you think chivalry is dead?

I grew up in an era when boys and men routinely opened doors for women and allowed them to go through first.

When accompanying a woman up a flight of stairs, a man would invariably walk behind the woman - so that he could arrest her fall if she stumbled: a plausible scenario, especially when wearing high stiletto heels and thigh gripping skin-tight skirts were in fashion (for women anyhow).

Boys would vacate their seats on crowded public transport, to allow a girl or woman to sit, and men would do likewise for women, especially those evidently in labour.

A man taking a woman out for a meal, or drinks in a bar, would not only be willing pay for the meal and drinks for both of them, but the woman would be so certain of that arrangement, that there would be no chance of her taking enough money to “pay her share” if for some reason it proved necessary for her to do so.

Older men wearing hats would raise the hat as a sign of respect, and older men without hats would “tug their forelocks” for the same reason.

Cloaks would be spread eagerly across puddles to ensure that the lady did not muddy her dainty ankles and stockings.

In the absence of a cloak he would prostrate himself across the gutter and gladly allow her to trample across his person, whilst averting his eyes to avoid giving the impression that he was merely taking the opportunity to scrutinize her flimsy undergarments.

A man would nobly beg a lady’s pardon when belching or breaking wind in her company, and would, without exception, remove his hat before indulging himself in any sexual favours.

He would also err towards remove his boots, unless availing himself of an opportunity to enjoy a quick knee-trembler in a gloomy back-alley.

During all such voluptuous behaviour, the lady would try to remain demurely indifferent until the gentleman replaced his hat and said “Thank you Ma’am” thus indicating that he had finished and was ready for her to readjust her clothing as prudence and good taste might dictate.

Alas, what has happened to this long-gone, gallant, chivalry?

We can only seek to blame all those bra-burning, tweed-wearing, carpet-munching, feminists for all their ludicrous demands for equal opportunities and claims for leave to vacate the kitchen, and neglect their God-ordained roles of bathing the children and laundering their diapers.

Ahh gallantry!
Like nostalgia, I fear it isn’t what it used to be.

As far as the more serious first half of your post goes, I would open doors for women more often if they didn’t race me to the door. Any woman who wishes doors to be opened should allow men to get to the door first. When I was a lad men did open doors for women but women also walked with a more leisurely gait. I’ve paid for almost every date I’ve been on. The exception was one with woman I dated on college who insisted on going Dutch. I generally prefer a woman to ascend stairs ahead of me but admittedly it is more to admire their assets rather than to catch them after a misstep. I was shocked when I was walking up stairs with a older Southern gentlemen whom I often debated worldviews with. A particularly well proportioned female in tight jeans was ahead of us. After the lass was out of earshot my coworker asked me how I could possibly doubt the existence of God in light of such natural beauty. Shocked! I tell you, I was shocked that this proper Southern Baptist gentleman was as ribald as my heathen self.

No, I don’t think chivalry is dead… But maybe what we perceive as chivalrous today has changed?

& to add…

“A gentleman is simply a patient wolf.”

Interesting theory

True

I don’t really think it’s dead, but I don’t think guys that use it should be praised or labeled as a man for it. Some just hype it up to be some skill when it’s just common mannors.