It just occured to me that chivalry is one of the biggest turn-ons. Many of my greatest boy memories involve little, unexpected moments of gentlemanly behavior.
- H taking off his jacket in the middle of winter and putting it over my shoulders so that I would be a little less cold while he walked the rest of the way in a short-sleeved t-shirt.
- A always insisting that I walk on the inside of the sidewalk. You know, in case a car came careening out of control, he would be the first one hit. Ha! Silly, but chivalrous.
- Wending my way through a crowded party with P’s hand placed firmly on the small of my back the entire time.
- A random stranger holding out his hand to help me over a puddle in the rain. Then laughing with me (at me?) while I stumbled and crashed into him. Then promptly asking me for my number. And promptly calling two days later.
And NOTHING pisses me off more than a guy that doesn’t know how to treat women.
- S making me SPLIT a dinner/drinks check with him (first and last time this has ever happened to me—I felt like punching him and I STILL get mad thinking about it). I’m all for women paying for things sometimes (a cab, popcorn at the movies, etc.) but I would rather pay for the WHOLE bill than split it evenly down the middle. It felt like a business transaction, not a date! And men should ALWAYS pay for at least the first few dates. I don’t care how old-fashioned that sounds.
- Guys everywhere who don’t hold doors open for women.
- Guys everywhere who cut women off while walking on the sidewalk.
- Guys who don’t make sure you’re in a cab safely before taking off. Men should always (a) put the girl in a cab, or (b) walk her all the way home to her doorstep.
I guess I’m not as much of a feminist as I like to believe. Sigh.
