Forget legwarmers
Forget ti-dye
Forget pin-up dresses
What we really need is the return of the Gentleman!!
This morning, I was shoved and pushed so many times I admitted defeat and leaned against a wall letting the stampede pass me by. My 28 years don't even allow me to use the phrase "I remember a time when things were different" but I still know things MUST have been at one point. The tiniest gesture of a man simply sliding over to the vacant seat rather then watching me climb over two sets of knees or letting me on/off the train before him seems an alien concept after four years of London life. I know there are those who still practice manners and I feel they deserve a mention but this blog is purely about the other 98% of male commuters.
If you know me then you will know i'm not someone in favour of sexism or oppression, and will voice my opinion at the slightest remark on such matters but I don't see how in order to be granted equality we seemed to have sacrificed respect.
"Woman are delicate creatures and we must act sensitive to their nerves" - Anon 1912
The sight of a naval officer in uniform ignites something deep in every woman, and no its NOT the uniform its what the uniform represents. Respect, Loyalty... and well yes, down right hotness but I know he will be a very different man to the one who stepped over my spilled groceries yesterday. When I was 18 I worked in a cafe in Shannon Airport, this particular day I had dealt with two flights full of delayed and angry passengers, snotty Airport staff who seemed to enjoy complaining yet returning every day and a manager who "bumped" off my ass everytime he passed me. Needless to say I wasn't the cheeriest teenager, so I had to almost pinch myself when I saw what was approaching. US Marines had landed for re-fueling and came up to the cafe for some refreshments. I was suddenly inundated with assistance from the female staff who were previously nowhere to be found during the dinner rush! "Hello Ma'm, Thank you M'am, Have a nice day" can you imagine what those words sounded like compared to "Jaysus whacha call dat!?" or "F**k off will ya, five euro, i'm bringin my own in from tomorrow" and my favourite "Fill up da plate will ya!!? I hope dat bitch isn't on the till".
And guys wonder why girls swoon at a solider?? Just like the effect a nurse has on men, she's there to look after you, kiss your boo boos and make you feel aaaall better, well a man in uniform gives us the illusion of protection and respect.
I'm not asking for guys to "doth their hats" to us women, i'm just asking for a simple thing like offering the pregnant woman a seat rather than waiting for a girl to do it or opening a door, oh my god, at this stage I actually think I would marry the first man who opened a door for me! Not desperate at all is it?? Or coming to a woman's aid, when did that end!?
Once while standing at a bus stop with my mother in Angel she was approached by a drunk who was wanted to sell her his imaginary greyhound, stepping in front of mum seemed to offend him and his invisible greyhound so much he began shouting abuse in my face. Although the bus stop was packed it was left up to me alone to defend her. There was the skinny jeans boyfriend hanging onto his girlfriend as if she was being attacked, well that's what the romantic in me would like to believe, in reality he was probably using her as a shield. There was the six foot brick shithouse who simply turned up his ipod and the business man who suddenly became so fascinated by the bus maps. After a few more slurred insults the drunk stumbled his way across the road, I turned to thank everyone aloud for their assistance, or lack of, and hurried mum on the bus before some junkie appeared with a reasonably priced unicorn.
We all feel the fear and stress of everyday life in a city, and it's easy to just zone out but is it so wrong for me to long for when women were delicate creatures and men were sensitive to our nerves!!?
