Widebrim
I'll Lock Up
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Shangas said:Perhaps in 1909 women were delicate and physically inferior to men; a woman in that day and age concerned herself with housework. Not heavy machinery, the duties of a police-officer, dog-trainer, prison-guard or any other occupation that a man might do.
A hundred years later that's becoming less and less the case. A man (of gentle breeding or not) offering his seat to a lady is a matter of MANNERS and nothing else. Women who take offense at things like this (men offering their seats, opening doors, etc), are, in my opinion - reading far too much into common courtesy. We men are not implying *anything* other than the fact that our parents taught us to be nice and polite and courteous.
It's true that in 1909 women were "officially" considered delicate and physically inferior to men, but the fact is that up until a few decades ago, the majority of women lived in agricultural areas, and were far from delicate. (My older realtives who lived on the farm back in Pennsylvannia were from from weak.) However, being a police officer, dog trainer, or prison guard, does not necessarily guarantee that anyone is physically strong (which is why I believe that police officers should be at least average height and physically strong enough to take someone else down, hand-to-hand training and sidearms aside). But you're right that what we are speaking about here is manners, even if they are outdated ones...