Is chivalry dead?

11:26 AM Monday Oct 1, 2012

Photo / Thinkstock

Is chivalry so scarce women no longer recognise it, or has feminism simply rendered women unwilling to take part in the practice many say is outdated?

Derived from the French "chevalier" for horseman, chivalry was originally linked to the code of behaviour associated with knighthood.

Now it means that men behaving politely towards women - rising when a woman enters the room, assisting with chairs, opening doors and carrying packages - has largely become a thing of the past.

Men do not behave like gentlemen any more, some women complain. Yet those who do also face being labelled a dinosaur for their actions.

Is chivalry dead? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:

George () | 12:49PM Monday, 01 Oct 2012

I can say that basic kindness has gone out the window. Not to mention manners. I recently took my very elderly (88 years old) Mum to a prizegiving at my sons secondary school.

The seats were almost full in the tiered upstairs auditorium and there were a few single seats dotted here and there. My Mum uses a stick and sometimes a frame for her mobility and is very unsteady on her feet.

We located a seat for her next to a couple who were sitting on the end of a row of seats. They firstly did not want to offer it to her lest they had to actually sit next to someone and secondly they refused to get up so she could easily get to the seat resulting in my Mum having to to risk a fall clambering past them with me awkwardly trying to hold her arm and keep her from toppling from the upper end of the row.

I was disgusted at their incredible self- centredness, The couple were well heeled middle class folk at the later end of their forties. And I hate to think what their kids will turn out like

bernie` (Hamilton) | 12:49PM Monday, 01 Oct 2012

Women seem to want to be men going by the actions of so many. Language, for instance. Women swear more openly and often than about twenty years ago, a career is the most important thing.

They say they can't have kids just yet because of their career, they don't feel ready. They dress exposing most of their body and then get annoyed when men look and say the usual tripe, I have a mind. They need to make up their minds what they want.

Chris F (South Auckland) | 12:49PM Monday, 01 Oct 2012

It may not be dead but it is ailing.

As a 65+ I was bought up to open and hold a door for a woman and they other things you mention including vacating your seat on public transport if no seat available etc.

But when you get abused for doing so by some women, you start to wonder why bother, but old habits die hard and why should I reduce myself to their level.

So I will continue to behave to woman and also people older or less well than I am the way I was taught (it was called resect when I was young) and be please that I can still do so