The perfect gentleman
Men seem to have lost their touch when it comes to being an old romantic and no longer find it second nature to offer up their seat on the commute or pull out a woman’s chair on a romantic date. This is because they fear being knocked back by women and feel their offer would be unappreciated.
A recent study of 5,000 people was carried out by AXA and it was revealed that chivalry is in fact not dead and men have just become confused. Men don’t appear to know what women want and think that such chivalrous acts would just embarrass us.
Why do men find chivalrous acts so uncomfortable? Yes, we have become more independent and no longer need a man to make us feel good, we have shoes and bags for that but we are suckers for a romantic gesture. Three quarters of us would in fact like to be offered a seat on the commute and nearly two thirds of us would love it if a man held out our chair without even being asked.
Whilst it is thought that chivalry is outdated it still means a lot to a woman but men do not seem to get the hint, only 15 per cent of men will regularly offer up their seat on a train or bus.
Of course, chivalry can seem a little old fashioned but men appear to have become pretty lousy when it comes to making a woman feel good. Men find chivalrous acts terribly uncomfortable due to their perception of women feeling patronised which is ridiculous, just seven percent of women feel patronised by chivalry, the rest of us find it flattering and so we should.
The study has brought to our attention that men need to start welcoming these chivalrous acts and stop thinking they know how women want to be treated.
Psychologist Donna Dawson feels that it is down to women to encourage men into being more considerate, she said: “Men will always be the stronger sex, physically, and so it is only natural for men to want to show consideration for women when it comes to dealing with doors, heavy luggage or by offering a seat on public transport. So if men are worried about the response they will get, women should respond to any little chivalric gesture that means a lot to them with obvious appreciation, so that men will feel encouraged to repeat such actions to more women in the future.”
Lauren Cunningham- Female First