Chivalry vs. the Educational System

Let’s talk for a moment about Chivalry. Let’s start with the Mirriam-Webster definition that probably springs to mind, first, when someone says “chivalry”:

chivalry demanded of him that he be conspicuous through his gallant, courteous, and generous behavior.

The previous definitions made it clear that “him” was a knight. (Knights were almost never women).

How then, could this this Texas teacher ever believe that this lesson would teach the true meaning of chivalry?! All it really did is perpetuate rape culture.

Yes, the boys were being taught, for that one day to pull out chairs and open doors for the girls. That’s a nice gesture that ANY person can and should be making for ANY other person REGARDLESS of their gender. Kindness and gestures of kindness should never be gender based, and neither should a good education.

Maybe the teacher was thinking of Muslim women when she instructed her girl students to walk behind the boy students. Maybe she even knew that it was not a sign that the women are considered to be “less” than their husbands but rather a sign that the husband is looking ahead for any harm that might be in his wife’s path.

Proper English women didn’t walk BEHIND their husbands in the Elizabethan days. Any male would be loudly scorned by anyone who saw him not gently holding the arm of his female charge on his own arm.