... According to Nelly Furtado.
But you're not on this page to read about what she thinks, are you? So here's my unsolicited opinion.
Chivalry isn't dead... Not exactly. It still exists in various conditions.
The first result of Googling the definition of chivalry reveals that it is "the medieval knightly system with it's religious, moral, and social code." In that sense, yes, chivalry is dead, unless you're at a Renaissance Fair. And if you Google pictures of "chivalry", most of them involve knights in chain mail and the works. Try it. The word, however, also originally described gallantry, valour, honour, and courtesy. Unless I'm one of the only females who are fortunate enough to have met men who hold these traits, then I think it's safe to say that we can still feel chivalry's presence behind us while it's politely holding the door open.
Chivalry isn't dead... Not exactly. It still exists in various conditions.
The first result of Googling the definition of chivalry reveals that it is "the medieval knightly system with it's religious, moral, and social code." In that sense, yes, chivalry is dead, unless you're at a Renaissance Fair. And if you Google pictures of "chivalry", most of them involve knights in chain mail and the works. Try it. The word, however, also originally described gallantry, valour, honour, and courtesy. Unless I'm one of the only females who are fortunate enough to have met men who hold these traits, then I think it's safe to say that we can still feel chivalry's presence behind us while it's politely holding the door open.
No, Emma Stone, it doesn't just exist in '80s movies, but it has evolved. You can't expect the same chivalry spoken of in Knights' Tales to be the same as the one you see today. Ladies, tell me you won't be weirded out if a guy asks if he could court you and ask for your hand in marriage by means of offering your father some sort of remains of a beast he'd slain (though a dragon would be cool). The very meaning of the word has been diluted from knightly honour to "Ways to Treat Your Lady".
I admit, I'm a sucker for an occasional chick flick, but damn, those movies warp the standards of men in women's heads. As a self-declared romance junkie, I recognise that those films are indeed addictive, but I also know that they are fictional.
If you expect your man to be like Christian (Moulin Rouge!), Noah (The Notebook), or Rick (Casablanca), then make sure that you are on par with their leading ladies, and if you are, then I say go and don't settle for less. If not, then get your head out of the clouds and be realistic. Either way, set your standards high, but not so high that it borders on ridiculous.
I admit, I'm a sucker for an occasional chick flick, but damn, those movies warp the standards of men in women's heads. As a self-declared romance junkie, I recognise that those films are indeed addictive, but I also know that they are fictional.
If you expect your man to be like Christian (Moulin Rouge!), Noah (The Notebook), or Rick (Casablanca), then make sure that you are on par with their leading ladies, and if you are, then I say go and don't settle for less. If not, then get your head out of the clouds and be realistic. Either way, set your standards high, but not so high that it borders on ridiculous.
"Holographic Chivalry" refers to acts of chivalry performed with ulterior motives, typically, when a man creates the illusion of being gentlemanly in hopes that it results in some form of sex. Personally, I think paying for meals, holding doors open, and walking on the outside of the curb for several dates doesn't warrant a man sexual gratification, but hey, men are from Mars. And I don't doubt that it works for certain people.
Pardon the nerdy reference, but this is similar to when Luke saw that hologram of Leia asking for help. He was entranced, even though she wasn't really there. It's not really chivalry, but it looks like it. They say if someone is nice to you but rude to a waiter, they are not a nice person. True chivalry is not just holding the door open for your girl, but also for that old couple walking 2 metres behind.
So... It's still not dead, it's just... somewhere else.
Pardon the nerdy reference, but this is similar to when Luke saw that hologram of Leia asking for help. He was entranced, even though she wasn't really there. It's not really chivalry, but it looks like it. They say if someone is nice to you but rude to a waiter, they are not a nice person. True chivalry is not just holding the door open for your girl, but also for that old couple walking 2 metres behind.
So... It's still not dead, it's just... somewhere else.
But it's undeniable that chivalry is endangered, and we don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to find the killer. Women. They have made it into a catch 22. Men are damned if they do it, because he "thinks she can't, so he's looking down on her", and damned if they don't, because "he was so ungentlemanly".
Calm down, I'm not talking about all women. There are a handful of misandrist feminists whose tweets have been circulating the internet. These are the ones who fly into a fit of rage when a guy opens a door for her, accusing them of belittling their capability of being a "strong woman".
Look, here's my take. Women want masculine guys, and masculine guys want to be able to take care of you. No strong guy is going to want to be with a woman who NEVER lets him do that, simply because it's emasculating. Keep in mind that you do not have to be weak to attract men like that.
Yes, a strong woman can say "I can do it myself, I don't need you to do it for me", so she does, and gets the validation she needs. But a stronger woman doesn't need that validation. Her mindset is more like, "Sure, I can do it myself, but it's a lot more fun when someone else does it for me" :P
That being said, chivalry is much rarer now, but still very much alive. Just my 2 cents.
Calm down, I'm not talking about all women. There are a handful of misandrist feminists whose tweets have been circulating the internet. These are the ones who fly into a fit of rage when a guy opens a door for her, accusing them of belittling their capability of being a "strong woman".
Look, here's my take. Women want masculine guys, and masculine guys want to be able to take care of you. No strong guy is going to want to be with a woman who NEVER lets him do that, simply because it's emasculating. Keep in mind that you do not have to be weak to attract men like that.
Yes, a strong woman can say "I can do it myself, I don't need you to do it for me", so she does, and gets the validation she needs. But a stronger woman doesn't need that validation. Her mindset is more like, "Sure, I can do it myself, but it's a lot more fun when someone else does it for me" :P
That being said, chivalry is much rarer now, but still very much alive. Just my 2 cents.