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[moominmuppet]

An excellent dissection of a well-meaning but horribly misguided article in favor of chivalry

A good article on The nonviolent philosophy of clinic escorts
Feministing interviews the ever-awesome Audacia Ray, feminist, activist, co-founder of Sex Work Awareness, author of Naked on the Internet: Hookups, Downloads and Cashing in on Internet Sexploration, director of The Bi Apple, and generally rockin' woman
Metal Foam: nifty!

Comments

[blackbyrd2.livejournal.com]

I would like to point out though, that one can work for substantive change while still being a decent person. They are not mutually exclusive acts. Also, being deferent does not necessarily mean one is being dismissive. I show the same courtesies to soldiers (of both sexes) and I certainly don't think I'm perpetuating any sort of system of oppression, or acting on my superiority (Hah!) when I do so.

Yes, the guy who wrote the original article is misguided at best, and doesn't grasp the concept of male privelege or how it molds his motivations. I understand that the response is only relevant to the article, yet it appears to make generalized statements about "chivalry" and men. The comments seem to bear this generalized viewpoint out.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

I do think that some of the commenters got something right, though. What you're describing is courtesy, or manners, or being a decent human being. It's not chivalry in any accurate use of the word, which is pretty inextricably sex and class-linked. I do the same for people; I give up my seat, open doors, etc. And I don't mind if others do it for me, although I strongly prefer when it's not obviously just because I'm female.