Attention Men: Chivalry is Not Dead

I am an independent woman. I own my own home, my own car, have a job, pay my bills etc. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself in most situations.

With that being said, I must say that those things do not mean that when I go out on a date with a man, I don't want to be treated like a lady.

I went on a date with a guy last week. We met for drinks at a bar in a downtown area. I had to park about a block and a half a way, and I walked to the bar where I met my date. We spent a few hours at the bar, chatting, having a drink, getting to know each other. We had a nice time and we had a lot in common. I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry on the date, but sometimes that grows, and regardless it was pleasant conversation. I thought he was a pretty cool guy.

It was getting late, so we decided to call it a night. We walked out of the bar together. He told me that he was parked down the street in the parking lot (about a half block closer to the bar than my car), and I told him where I was parked. We started walking in the direction of the cars, continuing the pleasant conversation. When we got to the entrance of the parking lot, he said good night, went to his car, and I continued to walk to my car. It was about 11 o'clock at night.

This guy immediately lost any chances of another date. Maybe he didn't feel any chemistry either, I don't know, but I don't even think that matters. Any decent guy should walk his date to her car at 11 o'clock at night, or at least offer. I don't care if he had a horrible time on the date or if he fell in love with the girl. It is the decent, chivalrous thing to do!

Some men think that chivalry is buying a few dozen roses and treating a girl to an expensive restuarant with a fancy bottle of wine. This is not true. Chivarly has nothing to do with money. Chivalry is a way to show respect for a lady. The following are some of the easiest things that a man can do on a date to show that he is chivalrous and that he is respectful of women:

1. Open all doors for your date (yes, even the car door!)

2. Pull her chair out for her at the restaurant or bar

3. Help her take her coat off

4. Walk closer to the street

5. Walk her to her car or door after the date

These are simple simple little things. They are so easy to do, but unfortunately many men don't feel the need to do them anymore. Many women have helped create this problem, with the whole "I can open my own door" attitude. This attitude is stupid. A man isn't opening the door for you because he doesn't think you can do it. He is opening it because he is being a gentleman! Don't yell at men for being gentlemen!

My advice to the men, if you are on a date with an ultra-feminist who doesn't want you to be a gentleman, please don't think that most women are the same. Most women want a gentleman, but settle for less because they don't think that those types of men exist anymore. And to the ladies who want a gentleman, stop settling for less. You deserve to be respected and to be treated like a lady.