Boys always get the bad rep, sometimes deservingly so, but what if women are part to blame?
For years, women have been fighting to be more independent, more equal to men. We want the same salary, respect, and strength that men have. More and more women are holding off on getting married and devoting more of their time to their education and their career. This doesn’t mean we don’t want the respect from men that we deserve.
Sure, we can and will open doors for ourselves but a chivalrous man opening the door for us definitely doesn’t go unnoticed. The little acts of chivalry such as opening car doors, holding shopping bags, and patiently waiting have neared the brink of extinction in the past few years. Whose fault is that, really? I’ve seen women who expect their boyfriend to do everything from holding their purse for them, buying them everything under the sun, and never letting them touch a door handle. More often, though, women strive to be independent. These are the women who roll their eyes when men open their door and respond “I have arms, I can open it myself.”
Perhaps it’s partially the women’s fault. Perhaps by pushing so hard for independence we gave off the impression that we don’t want to be treated like ladies. Perhaps feeling confident in makeup and short skirts made men feel as though we don’t deserve the same respect we once received.
So, boys, be chivalrous. A little bit of respect will go a long way. Try not to fulfill your stereotype of “frat boy” because nice guys always win in the end, always. And, women, let the guys hold the door for you every once in a while. Although we can do everything ourselves, it’s nice to be treated well.