Is Chivalry Needed in This Day and Age?

In medieval times, chivalry may have been needed for a completely different purpose and I will not dwell on its validity or legitimacy at all. Instead, I will straight off take the premise that certain acts which would have been deemed chivalrous in those times are still needed today as courtesies from men to women and niceties between both men and women alike.

So having established that these are courtesies and not acts of chivalry, let’s ponder on a few that will help show case you as full of etiquette.

The Unrelenting Topic of Doors

Holding open doors are a killer, aren’t they? The moment you miss a door, it is as though the world has come to an end, people talk about it, Praveeni writes articles about it, oh blimey! Well, I will put all concerns and worries about doors to rest – office doors, car doors, home doors, gates, restaurant doors, mall doors – they are all the same. Irrespective of whether you are a man or a woman, please hold them open for those approaching the door. It is a lot simpler to handle a door that is held open than to go opening it all over again. Some may be holding too many things, some may find it difficult to handle heavy doors and some may find life a lot easier, if they didn’t have to keep reaching out to yank open a door. So let’s make life simpler for all of us and hold open whatever door we can. Please do this whether you are younger, older, man or woman.

Carrying Things

Let’s face it, most men are generally dressed more appropriately for rugged activities than their female counterparts who are in heels and flowing dresses. Lending a helping hand seems a sensible and polite gesture. Ladies need not think that they are handicapped – accept any assistance with grace. Smile politely and say thank you. Gentlemen, please do continue your good work with handling groceries, bags and whatever else you find a female friend or family member carrying.
At the same time, when you are well equipped to handle bags and baggage, please go ahead ladies – don’t wait for someone to be lugging your things for you and do it for other fellow men and women when you can.

Giving Up Space in a Queue

Queues are sensitive topics these days and I understand that no one is in any mood to offer their slot in the queue to someone else. When you are eventually in the mood for it or when you want to really be full of etiquette, here are the factors to consider. Say you are in the queue to serve dinner at a buffet (am steering clear of fuel queues and the like), does the other person have a child with him or her? Does s/he have half a dozen things in their hand that they might need help with? Does s/he look like his/her feet are killing him/her? Well, in that case, a bit of kind ness will not hurt.

Giving Way

If someone is exiting the building, that person has priority over someone who is entering a building. If it is an elevator, a train or if both of you are trying to exit, it just makes more sense for whoever who is closer to exit first, but having said that, it is polite and charming to step aside and allow a lady to pass through before you.

Honestly, at the end of the day, it is not about the other person, but about you. If you choose to be polite, well mannered, chivalrous (if I may) and courteous, it will reflect well on you. Choose the full of etiquette way of life and stay tuned for more on this topic.

Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash