So what happened?
Though many determined women had fought for centuries to be treated with respect, the event which changed everything was the Second World War. The needs of wartime caused mass amnesia regarding the capabilities of women as they entered domains previously reserved for men. They proved to everyone, and most importantly to themselves, that they had the ability to survive and thrive in all professions.
Following the war, there was no going back. The truth was known and the truth had set women free. From then on, concepts of chivalry and politeness began to change
The end of the world as we know it
Emboldened with this new faith in their abilities and supported by enhanced legal standing, women's need for the chivalrous male began to decline. And as their need diminished, the behavior, which once had been necessary now, became an unwelcome reminder of past subjugation.
No more Mr. Nice Guy?
No. None of this is meant to imply the death of politeness or even chivalry. It is just about understanding from where we come.
Chivalry is about protecting the weak and those at risk. The women of today (i.e. Jean Kirkpatrick, Gabrielle Reese, Madeline Albright, Mia Hamm) are neither. But fear not, there are still the very young, the elderly, and the infirm who will appreciate your chivalric kindnesses.
Nor does any of this mean that politeness has gone out of style. True, the pendulum may have swung a little too far, and some women a tad sensitive regarding your polite nature, but this will pass. It is still OK to open doors for others, offer your seat on the train to a pregnant woman, and to help a woman in evening dress with her chair. And it is now OK for a woman to hold a door for a man. Here's to the day when we can just be nice to each other.
So what happened?
