Originally Posted by bealine

For this reason, you should walk on the left hand side of your lady so that your right hand may easily grab your weapon.

Originally Posted by LTN Phobia

While I'm quite independent and I can quite happily stand up for myself but I still do like the old fashioned gentlemanly behaviour, such as opening the door for ladies, 'ladies first', etc etc.

Originally Posted by YuropFlyer

If woman wants equality, who don't they serve in the army? (In those countries that it is mandatory only, of course)

Originally Posted by sunrisegirl

A large number of females do serve in the Armed Forces, voluntarily.

And surely if it's mandatory then they'd have to serve anyway

Originally Posted by Swanhunter

There are also some very anachronistic bits of British culture like not walking along eating or drinking.

Originally Posted by Swanhunter

There are also some very anachronistic bits of British culture like not walking along eating or drinking.

Originally Posted by Sixth Freedom

Nonsense. This is only true to a point. I would refuse to take a man on a date because that prospect has no appeal to me. On the other hand I will happily take a woman out on a date and go out with the boys another time for some refreshments and banter.

I have now established that a difference exists. Now the difficult bit is to find the dividing line between what I believe is the right amount of different treatment for different sexes.

Originally Posted by bealine

You can "personally" believe what you want,

Originally Posted by sunrisegirl

Me too. That kind of behaviour is not sexism to me, just courtesy and good manners. As bealine says it shows the difference between a man and a gentleman.

Originally Posted by ajax

Would you say the same thing if it were "men first"?

I'm just curious because most people don't complain if they're the ones benefiting.

Originally Posted by YuropFlyer

Not in Germany at least.

In those countries having professional service, it's of course free for anyone to go to the army or not, but in most with mandatory service, only men will be forced to go there (or do alternative work, or pay, or whatever they make up...) while woman are free to go there if they want, but obviously not very much of them are keen to do so. (I think it's always under 1%)

Originally Posted by hammythehammer

I've always thought it preferable for the woman to be first, closely followed by the man.

Originally Posted by sunrisegirl

Even when I was a smoker I never once smoked in the street

Originally Posted by Phil the Flyer

But what were you smoking, sunrisegirl?

Originally Posted by heckenhocker

I was also brought up with door-opening and seat-giving-up (but being female, training was on identifying those less able to stand than myself = older/injured/disabled people both genders, plus pregnant women). I don't expect men to offer me this courtesy, but accept gracefully when it is offered.

However I do wish some women were less strident in their views...and it's not automatic that a man should stand in my view.

- if you don't want to sit down, decline politely. No need to make a scene if you object to a courtesy.

- and a special hello to the woman on the Kings Cross to Hitchin train in 2007 who shouted at my husband to give up his seat (he was mid cancer treatments and exhausted, I was standing)! She wondered aloud to the carriage if she could find a seat as her feet were sore. Then stared at sleeping hubby, shook his shoulder and demanded if he had no manners.... I can only imagine she'd had some of Petrus' grump-making sleeping pills that day!