Chivalry...what does that look like to you? Are you a fan of this mindset? Hey guys - do you still perform chivalrous acts or...? Huh? You're not sure what chivalry is??!! Alright, no worries. Without getting to webster-pedia-ish, chivalry is basically the acts, traits, characteristics that make a man a gentleman. Sure there's more to it historically (think knights, damsels, laying coats over puddles so ladies don't mess up their shoes...I'm not kidding. Men used to do that). But in a nutshell, it's the whole idea of what makes a man a gentleman. No not your shoes or your clothes, but how you act around a lady...how you treat a lady.
Hmm, you're still not sure what I mean?
Ok, fellas, well when you go out on a date, do you open doors for her (car doors, restaurant doors)? When you go to dinner, do you pull out her chair and seat her first before taking your seat? Being chivalrous also entails performing acts of courage (getting between her and a speeding car, keeping her safe from harm while she's with you) or just being proactively nice, especially to ladies.
Some say that chivalry is dead...that it's a lost art. But why?! Is it a generational thing? I know for a fact my grandfather was the epitome of a chivalrous gentleman. He always opened the doors for my grandmother - car doors, house doors, restaurant doors. Actually, he opened doors and held doors for ladies in general. My Papa (grandfather) usually did just about all of the driving, too. Now my Mama Alice (grandmother) had her license and a car but she also had Papa. He felt she shouldn't have to drive if he was around to do so. Oh and when it came to chores, there were some things that young ladies were not supposed to do. Wait now - it wasn't that he felt young ladies were incapable of the tasks but they weren't for ladies to do if a young man (or a grandpa) were available. So you can imagine his response to my request to me learning how to mow the lawn...NO! LOL
Personally, I don't think chivalry is a completely lost art. But I do see it practiced less and less. Part of it might be because women are - and rightly so - more independent now. Maybe there's this thought process that women can do all and some say they DON'T NEED A MAN. Ugh! I've actually heard some ladies say exactly that. I mean sure I want my daughters to be able to take care of themselves (change a tire, take out the garbage, wash their cars, etc.) but I also want them to know that it isn't a sign of weakness, nor is it a sign of dependence if a man does these things and more for them.
Ladies, if a man holds the door for you, opens your car door (getting in and out of the car), walks you to your door after a date, insists you take his coat if it's cold, walks on the side of the sidewalk closest to the street or sits facing the door when you go out to dinner - it doesn't mean he's a control freak. It means he's respectful. He's CHIVALROUS, which means he clearly sees you for the lady you are - and a gentleman knows how to treat a lady.
Hmm, you're still not sure what I mean?
Ok, fellas, well when you go out on a date, do you open doors for her (car doors, restaurant doors)? When you go to dinner, do you pull out her chair and seat her first before taking your seat? Being chivalrous also entails performing acts of courage (getting between her and a speeding car, keeping her safe from harm while she's with you) or just being proactively nice, especially to ladies.
Some say that chivalry is dead...that it's a lost art. But why?! Is it a generational thing? I know for a fact my grandfather was the epitome of a chivalrous gentleman. He always opened the doors for my grandmother - car doors, house doors, restaurant doors. Actually, he opened doors and held doors for ladies in general. My Papa (grandfather) usually did just about all of the driving, too. Now my Mama Alice (grandmother) had her license and a car but she also had Papa. He felt she shouldn't have to drive if he was around to do so. Oh and when it came to chores, there were some things that young ladies were not supposed to do. Wait now - it wasn't that he felt young ladies were incapable of the tasks but they weren't for ladies to do if a young man (or a grandpa) were available. So you can imagine his response to my request to me learning how to mow the lawn...NO! LOL
Personally, I don't think chivalry is a completely lost art. But I do see it practiced less and less. Part of it might be because women are - and rightly so - more independent now. Maybe there's this thought process that women can do all and some say they DON'T NEED A MAN. Ugh! I've actually heard some ladies say exactly that. I mean sure I want my daughters to be able to take care of themselves (change a tire, take out the garbage, wash their cars, etc.) but I also want them to know that it isn't a sign of weakness, nor is it a sign of dependence if a man does these things and more for them.
Ladies, if a man holds the door for you, opens your car door (getting in and out of the car), walks you to your door after a date, insists you take his coat if it's cold, walks on the side of the sidewalk closest to the street or sits facing the door when you go out to dinner - it doesn't mean he's a control freak. It means he's respectful. He's CHIVALROUS, which means he clearly sees you for the lady you are - and a gentleman knows how to treat a lady.
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