"Being a true gentlemen never goes out of fashion." Treating a girl right is something that should never go away. Over the past decade women have lost hope that there are any gentlemen left in the world. Noone expects men to stick up for women, open the car door, bring flowers, or even something as simple as holding the door open. Women know it is rare to find a true gentleman, unless they are in the south. A southern gentleman is a man from the south who knows how to respect a woman, dresses with a certain attire, and has certain beliefs (urbandictionary np).
Over time, the term "southern gentleman" has definitely evolved. People today do not always expect a man to act in this way; back in the day it was something that was the normal. In the older days, the man would help his lady into the carriage instead of a door, their dresses were often long and heavy, so the gentleman thing to do was open the door so she would not have to drop her dress in the dirt. It was common for the gentleman to pull out her chair, when its raining hold a umbrella over her head, and stand on the outside of the sidewalk to protect her from anything that cold splash up from the horse carriages. Women often used to wear multiple layers, so it was common for the gentleman to help put on and take off her coat. Although some of these gestures still exist today by the typical southern gentleman, they are done in different ways because of the changes that had been made (countryoutfitter np).
There is a huge difference between a gentleman and a southern gentleman. A gentleman is a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man (Google). Being a gentleman is usually a choice that a man has. Some men are brought up to act as a gentleman, but it is not something that is forced. Growing up in the south, being a gentleman is something that is expected by the typical man. From when they are born, until they are living one their own, they are taught to act a certain way, dress a certain way, and even talk a certain way.
