Did feminism kill chivalry?

Question

I have heard this argument from a lot of people who really don't explain it that well. So seriously, did the feminist movement end the practive of chivalry (and please define what you mean by chivalry)?

Answer 1

I define chivalry as simple common courtesy, specifically from a man to a woman. For instance, having a man hold the door for me, offer to buy my coffee, opening the car door for me, etc.



Does that make me less of a strong, independent woman? Of course not. I find chivalry very sweet and flattering. It shows that a man is genuinely interested in taking care of my needs. It shows that the man is loving, kind, compassionate, sweet, and generous. I certainly don't feel any less of a woman when I encounter chivalry. As a matter of fact I feel more respected. Here is a man who doesn't know a thing about me but because of my smile or outgoing and graceful deportment he ~wants~ to help me, he wants to do something nice for me.



The feminine movement has not had any affect on chivalry. I encounter it (chivalry ) daily. From men I am aquainted with and total strangers. I think what does affect chivalrous behavior is the attitude of women. If a man encounters a woman who has a nasty attitude (sometimes foul mouth) and is bitter, he will probably run the other way- even if she is a "hottie." If a man encounters a woman who has a warm personality and sends off positive vibes, he will probably want to be chivalrous toward her simply because she makes him feel comfortable.



Also, if a man has had a bad experience (or experiences) with women, he may himself be bitter and think it's not worth trying anymore. Then other women see this and wonder, "Where the heck has chivalry gone?" Nice trickle effect, hmmm?



Common courtesy. Both men and women could learn something from that. In my experience I have yet to meet a man who has told me that he was thrilled to go out of his way for a negative, bitter woman.



No, feminism has not killed chivalry, but a surly attitude will!



I hope this helps you. :)

Answer 2

"Chivalry" is usually understood to be gracious courtesy and conduct, especially towards women. This comes from the old medieval legendry regarding "knights errant", who would demonstrate their love for a particular maiden or woman by doing a whole litany of valiant acts and deeds. The idea is nice, but the reality requires that women accept a second-class status: their primary existence is to serve as an object of desire for the knight-errant. Given that one cannot exist without the other, perhaps chivalry was indeed killed by feminism.



But is that so bad? What is really needed is not a one-way street via which only the "fairer sex" is treated with dignity, but a world where all are treated respectfully. This is what good manners and etiquette are all about, and something that is in short supply today. Perhaps the aphorism from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" could be put to use by more people: "Be excellent to each other..."

Answer 3

For me, chivalry is a matter of honour, courage and virtue. A lady who is good enough for one knight was expected to have the same qualities. However, the knights were the ones who made their choices, not ladies. Historically, it was a matter of origin and aristocracy, and more often, it was not so romantic as represented in fairy-tales (a weak, subtle and unprotected lady in trouble, saved by the knight...). It is true that the increasing of the women's independence made some of those "rules" pointless, but it doesn't mean that honour, courage and virtue are pointless as such. They just are not a privilege of one class any more. So, what killed chivalry and virtue in this sense - was certainly not feminism.

Answer 4

i have wondered the same thing for the longest time, did feminism kill chivelry or is it that the male sex has begun not to care? by definition feminism is the antithesis to chivelry, that being that chivelry is a special treatment and respect of the female sex by the male sex. feminism is a thought that both sexes should be equal. in this sence there are two outcomes of this movement as it reguards to chivelry; either men treat everyone with the same respect that was before only given to the fairer sex or they treat women with the amount of respect given from male to male interactions,,, the problem with either sinerio is that each person of either sex (in the larger sence) is in rivalry to each other because of the primal instinct and urges of sexual desire and/or personal desire for superiority over one another. this though is only in theory, though some parts of chivelry may have faded away there are still cultural status qou that exhist dispite the feminist movement; examples being that males not only are expected to make the first move but are (on the whole) still expected to pick up the check. picking up the check losing its meaning some time ago as the glass ceiling is supposed to be shattered. meaning "the sole bread winner" is an outdated strictly male trait. again all in theory as society has not reached this stage, at least not on the subconcious level. in short feminism has not yet killed chivelry but if true feminism comes to be it will.

Answer 5

No, but we keeps a trying.



Personally, I hope chivalry dies in my life time; I'm sick of men being phony and patronizing. However, I don't think that will be the case. It will take generations before men can even understand that women should be treated as equals, not as pathetic lesser beings, which is the message of chivalry.

Answer 6

Maybe because I am surrounded by chivalry in many forms from

living in the South, and for most men it is as natural a way

of acting toward women, learned from infancy by what is seen and demonstrated in front of him on a daily basis. I can have my own career, pay my own way in life, and still enjoy the little things that men do for women. To me, it

comes down to manners and proper etiquette. If a man is in

front of me, he will hold the door open for me 85% of the time. If he doesn't, then he is considered rude, or has not

been taught, or is not from the South. BUT, I will not wait

for anyone to open any door for me, can do it myself, even

loaded with packages and such.

Answer 7

It hasn't killed it entirely, but for a while it damaged it quite a bit. I've held the door for women who responded frostily, "I can open my own doors, thank you." And, often when you hold a door for one, they don't even say thank you, which is kind of a turn-off too.



The lack of emphasis on manners in today's society is more of a reason for the loss of chivalry. People just aren't polite to one another anymore. Kind of sad, isn't it?

Answer 8

chivalry is alive and well if you're a young, slender, pretty female.. if you're fat or old open your own door toots

Answer 9

It most certainly did!