LADIESFIRST
ItisthecustominAmericatogivewomenspecialtreatment.Althoughtherewasatimewhentheyweredeniedtherighttovoteandtheirproperplacewasconsideredtobeinthehome,theywerealwayslookeduponasthe"fairsex."Aman'sjobwasseenasthatofthebreadwinner;awoman'spositionwasthatofthehomemaker.Themanbringshomethebaconandthewomantakescareofthenest.
Alongwiththissubservientrolecamecertainprivileges.Awomanwasgivenapriorityinvarioussocialsituationsandtreatedwithbothreverenceandrespect.Thisrespectshejustlyearnedifshewerebothacaringmotherandafaithfulwife.
Inthepastithasbeenthegentleman'sresponsibilitytobeherprotectorandescort.Eventodayamanwithproperbreedingandgoodmannerwillpolitelyopenthedoorforalady,helpheronwithhercoatwhennecessaryandescorthertothedoorofherhomeafteradate,makingsuresheissafelywithintheconfinesofherhome.
Likewise,whenamantakesawomanoutfordinner,itisconsideredpolitetoassistherwithherchairwhenshegetsuporsitsdown.Onacrowdedtrainorbus,itisaltogetherproperforamantoofferawomanhisseatespeciallyifsheiselderlyorpregnant.
Thisrespectforwomendatesbackperhapstothetimeofchivalrywhenmenfoughtduelsforthehandofafairmaiden.Theritualofcourtshipinvolvedtheenduranceofgreathardships,thedemonstrationofvaliantcourageandthecourtesyofgoodmanners.
Evenwhenitcomestoshakinghandsladiescomefirst.Itisconsideredimpoliteforamantoextendhishandtoawomanforahandshakeuponfirstgreeting.Thisremainsthewoman'soption.Ifawomandoesnotextendherhandtothemanfirst,thenthemanshouldrefrainfromofferinghis.Inthissensethewoman'schoicecomesfirst.
Notonlydoladiescomefirst,butifsheisthewifeofthepresident,sheiscalledthe"FirstLady"andwomencontinuetobreaknew"first"categoriesbyenteringintofieldsofsocialserviceonceconsideredexclusivelytherealmofmen.AmericanowhashadafirstwomanSecretaryofStateinthepersonofMadelineAlbrightanda"first"womanpresidentmaynotbefaroffinthefuture.
ThereisnodoubtthattheWomen'sliberationmovementhasputwomenonanequalfootingwithmenwithrespecttojobsandcareeropportunities.Therecanalsobenodenyingthatmanywomentodayprefertobetreatedthesameasmenineveryway.Yet,inspiteoftheirnewfreedomandsocialequalitynoneofthemseemtoobjecttotheruleof"ladiesfirst."