Student and relationship expert offer insight on prevalence of chivalry

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By Monica Cheng
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While the concept of chivalry is constantly changing and conflicting views arise about whether chivalry is still practiced, senior Matthew Hook said chivalry is still alive.

“But I feel that male chivalry isn’t as prevalent as it’s been before,” Hook said. “I think that can be viewed as a good and bad thing. Women don’t need to rely on men as much anymore. But random acts of chivalry is also good.”
Such acts of chivalry would include opening doors, pulling out chairs, carrying books and allowing the girl to go first in lines.

Although chivalry is generally implied to men, Hook said it does not always have to only go one way. “It shouldn’t matter who is being chivalrous. Chivalry, in the traditional sense, is men being courteous to women. But now, it’s just a sign of respect.”

“Taking it back to the roots, it was the thought back then that women needed to be treated so delicately because they weren’t up to the standards of men. So they needed men to open doors and carry books for them. But that’s hardly polite because it’s sexist to women,” Hook said.

However, while some men are more polite and chivalrous toward women, there are others who do not approach women in the same way. Hook said that would most likely be explained in the way students were brought up in a family. He said order of birth may also have some impact because older siblings may be more caring toward others.

“I know some people who always act chivalrous to girls for the sole purpose of impressing them,” Hook said. “But I think it would be better if they act polite just for the sake of being nice and not for any other reason.”

Yes

By Thalib Razi
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According to Rachael Noble, a dating and relationships columnist and coach, chivalry has nearly died out in Indiana. She said chivalry in a relationship involves the man helping and providing for the woman whenever she needs assistance, including holding the door for her and paying for her meal on a date.

Noble said she believes chivalry in Indiana will disappear entirely in the next twenty years because women have been campaigning for the same rights and treatment as men for a century. In order for complete fairness, she said, many people feel chivalry must go.

“When I’m with a male friend and we’re walking into a building, I’ll let him hold the door for me. This lets him know how I want him to take care of me,” Noble said. “But the times have obviously changed in some ways; many of my guy friends are completely secure and actually excited that their girlfriends or wives are making more than they are.”

Noble said in the beginning of a relationship, the man should pay for the meal and do his best to be chivalrous and romantic in all ways. But over time, it would be more practical to put money together and split the bill, she said, since women and men are equal in the workplace and have similar incomes.

At the same time, according to Noble, with all the time and money women put into beautifying themselves for their men, it would be nice if the man would pick up the check at the restaurant.

“When I said that in my column, I got all these indignant e-mails from men saying, ‘You want equality but you want us to pay? We’re going to treat you like equals in everything,’” Noble said. “I realized then just how dead chivalry is here.”