Chivalry

In Elizabeth Kantor's The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature, Kantor makes the case that chivalry is good because it respects women, it is not at all intended to make it seem as if women are not equal. So, what is the meaning of Chivalry? Part of it is holding open the door for the ladies. However, it basically means the guy putting the gal's needs before his because that's the gentlemanly thing to do.

This originated from the medieval knights, who had a special list of rules to be followed, especially for ladies.

This has become controversial. Some have suggested that chivalrous behavior means that women are not equals to men. This is incorrect, however, because that's not what it was intended for originally. Overall, there are far more guys who think it's only polite to hold open a door or hold an umbrella over a lady walking to her car than guys who think doing so insults women and do it deliberately. I'm not saying women have no right to be angry at men who do purposely insult them, I'm saying that chivalry is something to be encouraged, not frowned upon.

Women do not have to be the same as men in order to be equal in their rights. Men holding open doors are not implying in any way that women should not be allowed to vote or be in charge of businesses. Chivalry was not originally created to make women seem inferior; it was created to be polite.