Is being a Gentleman unfashionable??
I just had a fascinating chat with a Guy I used to work with. He is not interested in what I am doing here, or with International BaG day. His comment:
They [women] wanted equality so stuff them, if I get to the seat first I’m keeping it!
I then asked about pregnant women and once again he surprised me with:
It was their decision to have a baby, not mine!
So, I guess he was meaning, why should I be inconvenienced by someone else’s decisions.
It was quite revealing for me to talk to someone who had so completely switched off these traditional notions of behaviour. I suppose I can understand how some men might use “equality” as the reason for not treating women any differently at all. I think they are missing the point of equality though… surely it is more about equal employment opportunity, equal access and the elimination of discrimination. So, in my opinion, this is a bit hard to defend in all circumstances.
What I cannot understand is the total lack of empathy for a woman who is carrying a baby and would need a seat more than a young, able bodied man. Something is really wrong here!
So, I suppose there will be people that scoff at International BaG day and at anyone who says being a Gentleman is not an outdated, unfashionable thing.
But, I must respectfully say: “Stuff them!” Something is broken here and I think we need to do something to try and rectify it.
Pete