Being born on the tail end of the 60s definitely had its pros and cons. Coming into a world that was sailing on the wave of a sexual revolution, society was trying to adjust to this newfound freedom. Confusion reigned as the teenagers welcomed this new lease of life and some parents and grandparents cringed at the sight of a miniskirt and others walked around in complete and utter shock! One question the older generation had was: is chivalry dead?
Women were in control of their bodies and had every right to show them off. The independent woman was the talk of the town, and every young girl wanted to be her. Pictures of beautiful women were popping up all over the place, from the side of busses to the big screen, displaying the image of ‘the modern woman.’ More women appeared in the workplace and the rise of the corporate woman had begun.
Growing up, I lived in a household where my mum wore the trousers and was my nearest and biggest role model; I grew up to be the same. When I look back, I cringe! I was domineering, controlling and was always right. I had to do everything myself and fed off the reverent fear that manifest when nothing was going my way. Don’t get me wrong, I was a good mother, but I ruled my house with a very rigid rod of iron (metaphorically speaking, of course). There was very little or no give in me.
I grew up thinking I did not need a man and to me that was one of my biggest strengths. I didn’t believe in chivalry. Is Chivalry Dead or Was It Just Hiding? That was just in films and ‘old fogey’ land. I was a modern woman, and chivalry was like a four-letter word to me. My thinking was a modern way of thinking, a sign of the times as most other women I knew were very much the same. I was so modern I drank pints of Stella Artois by the glassful, and I got a kick out of the older generation looking down their noses at me whilst tutting into their half pint glasses of shandy. This was the way I thought I was meant to be. I believe I was shaped and conditioned to forget the ‘old fashioned way.’ That was for losers, and I was a winner!
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Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not against women’s rights. Finding a balance is what I think to be important. As people we can do whatever we want (within reason) but, deep down, women want to be wined and dined. Treated like a princess. Given honour and respect for our gender and appreciating that these needs should be met by a man. Yes, we can be corporate bosses, leaders in society, mothers at home raising a family. This is wonderful and there’s room for powerful women in these worlds, but the time for prideful control is ending. It’s time to listen to the inner voice of our hearts and not allow society, media or any other outward entity govern who we are.
Straight women have a natural desire to be romanced by a man, and a straight man has a natural desire to romance a woman. It’s a part of our makeup and over the years it has been ignored. Feministic pride has crept in and chivalry has been downtrodden by this modern age, and its time to make a comeback. Men and women are equal, but we have different roles to play. We need each other! So men, open doors and buy her flowers for no reason. Make her feel like the most precious person in your world. And women, let him! So the question remains: Is chivalry dead? No, we just need to allow it to rear its head again!
- Is Chivalry Dead or Was It Just Hiding? - August 4, 2020