Spring cleaning time for your head - be mannerly to men and women

Use your urge for Spring Cleaning to clean out your culture and manners closet - your mind - grin. Jessica will help you get started.

clipped from www.feministing.com Mandating chivalry is mandating sexism A Latin teacher in Arizona has instituted a rule that all of his male students act like "gentleman" to the young women in class. Yes, that's right - he's mandated chivalry. First of all, this is Latin class - not Old-School Dating 101. But I digress. Now, let's be clear - there's a big difference between chivalry and manners. Being a nice person that opens doors for others (regardless of their gender) and being respectful is something that we should encourage in all people. That's being kind; it's mannered and it's nice. Chivalry, on the other hand, is straight up based on the idea that women are weaker need to be taken care of. It's insulting. It's also a trade-off - one that we're supposed to be grateful for - for being at the shit end of the patriarchy.