Last weekend, my friend from Michigan was visiting us in Chicago.  She works in finance, which is still an industry made up predominantly of men, and she asked me what I thought about the role of traditional chivalry in the modern workplace.  My friend has men holding doors open for her, and allowing her to sit down first, all the time, and she isn’t sure what to make of it – or how to advise her young, male reports.

Her concern is that, in the financial world, it’s an uphill struggle for women to be treated and perceived equally.  She fears that chivalry undermines all of the progress that has been made because it places women in more stereotypical, subservient roles. 

When she asked my opinion, I had to be honest.  I think chivalry is a nice thing.  In fact, I bristle a bit when guys in my office let the door close in my face, or don’t hold the elevator open when they see me rushing toward it.  Maybe it’s because my industry, marketing communications, has more women than men, but I have no problem with extra acts of politeness from either gender.

A question for you women who are chipping away at the glass ceiling of male-dominated professions: does chivalry offend you, and if so, why?  What do you think colleges, career advisors, and bosses should be telling young men about this practice, and do you think there are cultural differences to consider?