h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"What place is there for modern chivalry in an age of 'equality' and sexual litigation?"

Modern chivalry does not have to be a man stepping back for a lady. Anybody can do the following:

Hold the door open for whoever is following them through. I would say "especially those with lots of shopping, walking aids, buggies, children or parents to control" but really it's polite to do it for anybody - why should the much stronger/fitter person than you behind have to open the door again when you could just hold it one second longer?

Give help to others getting off and on public transport - depending on the person, this might including helping them with cases, making sure they don't fall or even just making sure you aren't in the way of the first person in the queue. There's a selfish bit here - it hurries them up so you can get on more quickly, without making them feel as if they must hurry and get to the more haste, less speed flustered state.

If you haven't had a hard day, give your seat to someone who has. This may be because they will naturally be tired (eg an elderly person or a heavily pregnant woman) or just because they look tired. Even young, fit men can have a hard day and be really tired by the end.

Don't assume you have a right to chivalry just because you're, say, female, pregnant, old, with a buggy etc. In my opinion, it's more a give and get situation. If you expect chivalry, you should be chivalrous yourself.

And if you are on the receiving end of chivalry, be polite and say thank you and smile, even if you're very tired. Don't however *expect* the people you are chivalrous to to thank you nicely, they might have a world on their shoulders which means they forget these little niceties.

AND say 'thank you' when someone helps u!!

and take the door in your turn! Nothing annoys me more than holding a door open for the person behind me, only to have them sail through smiling sweetly and saying thank you, then the next person, then the next! I'm neither a doorperson nor a doorstop!

Charlie

I think these are all great comments, and I myself agree.
I think the best way to show "chivalry" in this day and age is just to be courteous. It doesn't have to mean that all the men are behaving in a specific way to all the women, but can just be kindness. I think today it is probably best to sum it up as treating other people the way you want to be treated. Then you don't have to worry about politcal correctness and everyone can go home happy.

Jen