chivalry is very dead
This week has seen an array of un-chivalrous acts. Perhaps this is un-chivalrous week, and I’m just not aware of it?
Situation #1: Wednesday is rained very hard. I was on my way out from work, sans umbrella, so I decided to stand near the entrance of a building to wait for the rain to subside. Ten minutes later, it had not. In those ten minutes, poor little me, wearing all white and yellow, was passed by at least forty people with umbrellas. Everyone looked at me, saw my plight, and moved on. No one wanted to help, especially not the men who took a good ten seconds to ogle. It wasn’t until a very nice middle-aged man, who was coming from Wall St., offered me a spot under his umbrella. Thank you nice man, you are a rare one in this city.
Situation #2: I’m standing on the subway next to a very pregnant woman with her other five-year-old child. In front of us is a row of thirty- and forty-something Suits, enjoying their morning AM New York. No one stood up for the pregnant lady, not a single one. Awesome, “gentle”men.
Situation #3: I’m at Pat O’Brien’s on the UES. A thirty-something man comes up to me and asks me if I’d buy HIM a drink. I politely refused, whereupon he persisted with his demand. I said, “I’m leaving,” and extended my hand for him to shake. He pulled his hand away and gave me a Talk-To-The-Hand gesture oh-so-popular in the mid-nineties.
Congratulations, men, another successful week for you.
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Wow I am a woman but it would never ever occur to me to share my umbrella with a stranger, nor would I take someone up on that offer. I mean if I were friends with someone I would share it, but umbrella sharing is too close for comfort and difficult to do.
Sounds like a rough week for you. I find New Yorkers to be exceptionally kind and friendly. But I’ve never asked anyone to share their umbrella. In fact, I might feel a little edgy if someone asked to share mine. Not that I don’t like people. It just seems a little close. Even with my son we carry our own when the sky opens up.
Your second point is always a source of amazement with me. The fact that more guys don’t get up for pregnant ladies, kids, or elderly is always shocking. And your third point sounds like just a typical uptown meathead… Good for you not buying him the drink! What a prick.
The umbrella thing, I don’t find particularly offsetting. People are territorial, and everyone has different umbrella etiquette.
chivalry is a tool of the patriarchy.
men in nyc are dicks. no doubt about it.