Last night, I went out for dinner and drinks with my ex-boyfriend. Not the old ex, but the most recent one, in case you’ve been following my dating woes as of late. We talked and had a nice time over a couple of beers, and, when we got to the car, he opened the door for me. I was absolutely floored.
“What a gentleman!”
I know this may seem like such a small, meaningless gesture, but I have grown up in an age where chivalry is essentially nonexistent. How often do you see a twenty-one year old male opening car doors for women? Certainly not around where I live. I feel that, in an age where women are all gung-ho about their femininity and being powerful, men have taken a woman’s strength as an excuse to back off on common courtesies, such as opening doors. I hate this. Just because a woman is an empowered being doesn’t mean that she doesn’t enjoy being taken care of every once in awhile.
Of course, I have had doors held open for me. My other ex did it all the time, and still does to this day without even thinking about it. But for me, opening a car door is on a whole other level. If a man holds open a door for a woman, it’s nice. But when a man goes out of his way to open a car door, it means something. It means that he is putting her before himself, not just trying to get a glimpse of her ass as she walks through a doorway (not saying that all men do this, but I have received my fair share of ass-glimpsing disguised by gentlemanly door-holding behavior).
Last night was the first time I had ever had a car door opened for me in my twenty-one years, and I certainly hope it is not the last time. Yes, I am strong-willed and blunt. Yes, I enjoy speaking my mind. Yes, I can open doors myself, thank you very much. But yes, I do enjoy these small chivalrous gestures every once in awhile. Men, don’t think your women won’t appreciate it.
What are your thoughts on chivalry?
Holly, not Hollie
hollynothollie 