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Ladies first

I have noticed here in the south that the "Ladies First" principal applies. Gentlemen open doors, etc. Whether it is biblical or a cultural thing, I do not know.
 
I don't know if there is a biblical basis for it or not, but it is certainly the polite thing to do.
 
I think its cultural. In the more traditionally southern places I've lived, that kind of thing happens. On the other hand, gender roles are more strict, so women usually also earn less money, have fewer opportunities, etc. Kind of a trade off.
 
I think it started in France in the age of chivalry and knights in shining armor etc.

Before that, women were treated as chattels and inferior in almost every possible way. Treated as wicked temptresses too.
 
I think the whole Ladies First thing started not long ago...few decades ago women (generally) were treated as if they were without value: no one bothered about them much, kinda. It is a different world today - and a man of this millenium should agree with the Ladies First thing (when its the right step tho):D
 
We sometimes use that phrase (untranslated, in English) in a joking manner, for example: A woman and a man have to leave a building, but it's raining heavily outside. The guy politely opens the door to the rain, holds it open while staying inside and dry, and then says with an evil grin on his face: "Ladies first". :D
Other example: One morning wife and husband both have to get up terribly early and when the alarm clock brutally wakes them and they have to decide who's to get up and go to the bathroom first the man could say: "Ladies first.", then he could turn around on his pillow and get 10 more minutes of sleep.
So the chivalery phrase is sometimes abused to let a woman face some unpleasant thing first. :lol But that's okay. I'd gladly do that for a guy that I like.

However. They say chivalery is dead. I hope they are right.
I don't want special treatment because I'm a woman. I'm just a normal human being, not some sort of a diva.
 
Women first was the social recognition that women were the means of reproducing society. For a population to succeed there needed to be a higher ratio of women to men. That 'women first' became 'polite' was a convenient way of saying men were readily expendable.
 
i grew up in the 50's and 60's in the boston area. we were all taught "ladies first". then the womens' lib movement came along and by the 70's they wanted ladies first and for you to pay for the dates and they wanted their own way all the time to go along with it.
no wonder i didn't marry until the 80's.
 
wayseer said:
Women first was the social recognition that women were the means of reproducing society. For a population to succeed there needed to be a higher ratio of women to men. That 'women first' became 'polite' was a convenient way of saying men were readily expendable.
Click to expand...

That's very sad. :sad
Because:
1. Thinking men are expendable because their involvement in the procreation process seems shorter and lower is reducing humans to a biological function, and neither christians nor humanists should be okay with that.
2. Thinking of men as expendable is completely disregarding the emotional and practical costs women (and possibly children) have when their husbands (fathers) are gone because they were "expendable" in some way.
3. A world with more women than men just doesn't sound very promising from a woman's point of view. ;)

So if what wayseer says is the background for chivalery I think we should get rid of that degrading idea.
 
Related to this question.......

I have often noticed, when walking in the street, that many (most?) women, pay little attention to other foot-traffic and men (mostly?) seem to be expected to get out of their way. Women, far more than men walk along looking in shop windows, talking to their companions or tapping on their phone. If a man does the same, I consider it downright rude so I just generally just let him bounce off me.

If we assume that I am stating this accurately and not displaying a form of misogyny (which I would certainly deny), why do women do that? Is it arrogance, an innate instinct of 'women first' or are they just displaying a lack of spacial awareness? :confused

I have observed this is all 'Western' countries but not in the Middle or Far East. I've never been to Africa so can't comment.
 
Classik said:
Ladies first. :):D Is that a principle? Is it biblical? Does God approve of it?
Click to expand...
It's polite in some situations to let ladies go first. Sometimes at meal time I push them out of the way so I can eat first, but I'm trying to learn not to do that.
 
One of my pastors (who has this sense of humor) one day said: I musn't always eat the bigger portion. She must eat the bigger meat today. He let her eat the lion's share (altho it was done reluctantly)
 
Funny thing is: most men may be okay with the ladies first thing....In the church they are ignored, sorta;) Men lead in the church (Sorry for kicking the ball over the bar..)
 
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