Women Walk on the Inside of the Street

6 Responses on “Women Walk on the Inside of the Street”

1. gretchen

   Ah yes – old school chivalry. It seems to be a nice gesture and I’m sure it is well-intentioned, but I really think that’s as out-dated as opening doors and scooting chairs.

   I’m not anti-male, but dang it I can get the door myself! I believe that holding a door open should be universal…meaning if someone is behind you, be courteous and hold it open for them regardless of their age, their race, their gender or any other lame reason. Just be nice to people. If a male gets the door for me, I say thank you and move on as if they would have done that for anyone – not just me as a female.

   However, when they say things such as your husband did and make it a gender issue, then I think they need to be kindly told that’s a nice thought but an out-dated idea.

2. kel1

   Could this chivalry be rooted in a desire to protect the woman? I really do believe that men are hardwired with a protective instinct. You see it throughout nature, as well, and I’m sorry to say this, but I think modern feminism that balks at the idea of a man desiring to protect his partner and/or family is really in the wrong here.

   Maybe the man doesn’t want the woman to be abducted or hit by a car or something. Who knows?

   Bottom line for me is, if a man tries to be chivalrous, don’t mock him or make fun of him. He is being a gentleman. His mama taught him right. She taught him that women are to be valued and protected (rightfully so, as we are the bearers of the future generations), which is something you rarely see anymore.

   When a man opens a door or scoots a chair for a woman, he is showing that he can be civilized and thoughtful. I think it’s a little strange to complain about things like that when what we should be complaining about is the over-sexualization and objectification of the woman in society.

3. gretchen

   I would agree with you for the most part Kel, but if he’s going to make suggestions like that he might be smarter to explain his reasoning. If it’s that big of a deal for him, he should just non-nonchalantly switch to that side and be done with it. No need to make comments about it.

4. Julia

   You can tell I’m a generation older than y’all. My father told me this is done to protect ladies from the splash of mud and such when walking down the street. Remember they used to dump chamber pots out the window, so I suspect it was much appreciated by the ladies. It has little to do with anti-feminism but more with courtesy. Just remember you’re supposed to walk on the inside and move on.

5. Erik

   I know of this only because it is the women who ask/comment that I should be walking on the outside of the curb. It first occurred when I was a teen, she was 15. She said to me that only bosses who are offering their “girls” walk on the inside to show that their girl is up for grabs. Therefore, if she was my girl I should show this by walking on the outside. I conformed. Since then, I walk anywhere I choose but it comes up frequently. Recently, again I was told by a date, men should walk on the outside of the curb. Keeping in mind what was told to me as a teen and liking this female so much I oblige but I think it is outdated.

   Also, she wants me to open doors for her and allow her to go through first. Don’t get me wrong, I hold doors for anyone regardless of gender or age but sometimes I have opened the door politely held it behind me to let her go through but I’ll get a comment that she is to go first.

   I am all for an egalitarian society and nowadays women are doing all and many times better than men so who am I to treat them as if they are weaker or less abled? I try to make them happy by conforming but it does get confusing with which will be less offensive!

6. gretchen

   I say walk where you want to walk and don’t make a big deal out of it. This really should be a non-issue.

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