Chivalry is defined as "the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak" (Dictionary.com). To those of us who have grown up in modern day society, we think of chivalry as knights in shining armor and princes on white horses. As it is defined, chivalry is dead and gone, forgotten in the past. There are a plethora of reasons that people have forgotten this social code, starting with the fact that chivalrous behavior is no longer required. .
When researched, the code of chivalry begins with fearing the Lord and maintaining His church. Religious freedom in our society has squandered man's respect for God's word, and man is allowed to believe in whatever god he chooses. As well as religious freedom, there is an outbreak of rape and physical abuse of women in the last ten years. Nearly one-third of women report being physically or sexually abused by a spouse (dvcpartners.org). Chivalry is, in part, respecting the honor of women and protecting the weak. .
Yet another reason that I consider chivalry to be dead is that women have become independent and are insulted when men offer them any kind of help. Feminism, "the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men," has become the latest trend on social media websites (Dictionary.com). The movement of women yearning to be of equal status to men has made them view chivalrous actions as a social injustice. Feminists have proclaimed that actions like opening the car door and paying for the check at dinner is a sign of authority for men, and have started taking over the job themselves. With this free pass, men don't bother to behave chivalrously anymore, and these women have given them an excuse to do so. .
Feminists may not be the only reason that men are growing up unaware of what chivalry truly is.