Feminism and chivalry
Came across this great quote in chapter 12 of Jane Eyre:
It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions beside political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.
I agree wholeheartedly. And while I certainly don’t hold with many of the values espoused by the radical feminists, I do believe that women are great and wonderful and should be treated with equality (but this doesn’t mean that men and women are the same or should be treated so — far from it). In fact, being of the gentlemanly sort who subscribe to the old idea of chivalry, I prefer putting women up on a pedestal and giving them honor. Quaint and old-fashioned, perhaps, but it’s vastly satisfying. Even something as simple as opening a door for a woman makes my day. It’s nice to be nice. 
January 30th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Seems to me, though, that there’s a difference between putting a woman on a pedestal and treating her with respect because (rather than in spite of) you have a clear-eyed view of her, rather than an exalted one.
Just food for thought.
A.
January 31st, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Good point, and I think I agree (for the most part). On the other hand, consider this from C.S. Lewis (”The Weight of Glory”): “It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.” (Um, the last part doesn’t really apply to my argument here.
) Perhaps it’s a clear-eyed view not only of how she is right now (with all of her imperfections, since there are bound to be some) but also of her potential — who she can (will, hopefully) become.