“Ladies first!” the gentleman declared while opening the doorway of the restaurant, signing off to the beautiful young lady to enter the restaurant. The young lady smiled back and ambled into the restaurant, leaving the gentleman beside the doorway gazing away at the lady’s beauty.
Often, this phrase is heard almost everywhere, in restaurants, office areas, public entrances, learning institutes and even in the buses! I’m sure the gentlemen who are staying near Curtin Village or Villa’s bus stops will usually allow the young ladies to get onto the bus before they do. This is one example of ladies being first. In fact, this phrase is so commonly used that it can be known as a cliché (a phrase or opinion that is overused).
Normally, this phrase is heard in two situations. It is either used to gain something in particular or to avoid a certain situation.
For example, let say a group of boys and girls went to a concert where stars from all over the world are singing on stage. Guess what, the crowd was given a chance to actually take pictures with those famous singers and even take back with them a personal autograph of them. Without further ado, the crowd would rush onto the stage, only to be stopped by the security guards. Later, the girls would have shouted, “Ladies first!” That way, the ladies would be able to be the first to get up the stage to meet their stars at that night.
Another example is when a group of boys and girls were asked to go on stage and give a public speech regarding certain issues. Eventually, the boys would shout, “Ladies first!” The ladies, unable to defend themselves would have to take the initial start just because of the phrase – “Ladies first!” Through this way, the boys were able to avoid that frustrating situations of being first to give a speech in front of hundred of people.
Both examples clearly illustrate how the phrase - "Ladies first!" is usually used in our daily life. However, if I were to ask, why should the ladies be the first to do anything at all before the gentlemen? Why is there never a "Gentlemen first!"? Would it be unfair to the gentlemen if ladies are always given the chance to be the first? So, which gender exactly should be first? These will be the questions I will ask to those ladies and gentlemen.
In order to get a better point of view over this issue, I have asked several students in the campus about those questions above. Some rather interesting opinions were given by them such as it is a world-wide culture to always have the ladies come first before the gentlemen. Another one said doing such a gentlemen act is actually a way flirting with ladies. In other words, it actually meant because the person they are treating is a female, they treat her to the best of their abilities.
After I have gathered quite a number of information from the students, I found out that majority said that men must be a gentlemen and it is natural for gentlemen to let the ladies be first. Interested, I did a further research about the term ‘gentlemen’ and came out with some fairly interesting results.
According to the 8th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, a gentleman is defined as one who is without any title and that his ancestors have been a freemen (1856). It was also added that the title ‘gentleman’ can only be given to those who are courteous and show great and refined manner above the commoners (Encyclopedia Britannica 1856).
In short, gentleman is to possess great attitude and show good character in the public. In fact, a gentleman with such wonderful character will tend to treat others well naturally, especially the ladies. Else, it would be shameful to those with the title of ‘gentleman’ if they were to act the opposite.
Nevertheless, most gentlemen in the society now only treat ladies to the best of their abilities, by ignoring the other sex – the other gentlemen. As mentioned, a gentleman should treat not only the ladies but the other gentlemen well as well. If he is to treat one side of the sex (usually the ladies) well only, it would mean that he is practicing gender discrimination. As defined in our group, gender discrimination occurs when a person is subjected to different or unequal treatment in any number of situations and that treatment is based on the person’s gender.
Therefore, gender should not be used to determine whether he or she should go first. Else, it would only mean gender discrimination. So, readers out there, should ladies be first or gentlemen be first?
Often, this phrase is heard almost everywhere, in restaurants, office areas, public entrances, learning institutes and even in the buses! I’m sure the gentlemen who are staying near Curtin Village or Villa’s bus stops will usually allow the young ladies to get onto the bus before they do. This is one example of ladies being first. In fact, this phrase is so commonly used that it can be known as a cliché (a phrase or opinion that is overused).
Normally, this phrase is heard in two situations. It is either used to gain something in particular or to avoid a certain situation.
For example, let say a group of boys and girls went to a concert where stars from all over the world are singing on stage. Guess what, the crowd was given a chance to actually take pictures with those famous singers and even take back with them a personal autograph of them. Without further ado, the crowd would rush onto the stage, only to be stopped by the security guards. Later, the girls would have shouted, “Ladies first!” That way, the ladies would be able to be the first to get up the stage to meet their stars at that night.
Another example is when a group of boys and girls were asked to go on stage and give a public speech regarding certain issues. Eventually, the boys would shout, “Ladies first!” The ladies, unable to defend themselves would have to take the initial start just because of the phrase – “Ladies first!” Through this way, the boys were able to avoid that frustrating situations of being first to give a speech in front of hundred of people.
Both examples clearly illustrate how the phrase - "Ladies first!" is usually used in our daily life. However, if I were to ask, why should the ladies be the first to do anything at all before the gentlemen? Why is there never a "Gentlemen first!"? Would it be unfair to the gentlemen if ladies are always given the chance to be the first? So, which gender exactly should be first? These will be the questions I will ask to those ladies and gentlemen.
In order to get a better point of view over this issue, I have asked several students in the campus about those questions above. Some rather interesting opinions were given by them such as it is a world-wide culture to always have the ladies come first before the gentlemen. Another one said doing such a gentlemen act is actually a way flirting with ladies. In other words, it actually meant because the person they are treating is a female, they treat her to the best of their abilities.
After I have gathered quite a number of information from the students, I found out that majority said that men must be a gentlemen and it is natural for gentlemen to let the ladies be first. Interested, I did a further research about the term ‘gentlemen’ and came out with some fairly interesting results.
According to the 8th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, a gentleman is defined as one who is without any title and that his ancestors have been a freemen (1856). It was also added that the title ‘gentleman’ can only be given to those who are courteous and show great and refined manner above the commoners (Encyclopedia Britannica 1856).
In short, gentleman is to possess great attitude and show good character in the public. In fact, a gentleman with such wonderful character will tend to treat others well naturally, especially the ladies. Else, it would be shameful to those with the title of ‘gentleman’ if they were to act the opposite.
Nevertheless, most gentlemen in the society now only treat ladies to the best of their abilities, by ignoring the other sex – the other gentlemen. As mentioned, a gentleman should treat not only the ladies but the other gentlemen well as well. If he is to treat one side of the sex (usually the ladies) well only, it would mean that he is practicing gender discrimination. As defined in our group, gender discrimination occurs when a person is subjected to different or unequal treatment in any number of situations and that treatment is based on the person’s gender.
Therefore, gender should not be used to determine whether he or she should go first. Else, it would only mean gender discrimination. So, readers out there, should ladies be first or gentlemen be first?
Allan
3 comments:
Ladies first~!! XD Well, frankly, I do believe ladies should be first not because I want to flirt with them -.-" but I believe that's what a gentleman should do. It would be so impolite if gentlemen were to go into a restaurant first, ignoring the ladies behind. When they rushed for food, the 'gentlemen', normally, would finish all the food without 'wasting' any of them. The ladies will surely be the 'victim' of those 'gentlemen'.
So, I believe ladies should be first~!!
I think it originated from european roots, lyk wat we see in movies, 1700s. 1800s. Its been a way of living since then. Man has been known as a "stronger" species than woman so it makes sense like - ladies first, anything else theres the gentlemen..
^o^
Great to see someone leaving comments here! So, I guess what both of you are saying is females are weaker species than males and hence, females should be given first rather than males. Well, I agree with that!
[ ~ < - Allan - > ~ ]
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