I was just reminded of something while leaving a restaurant a little while ago. Some time back I read a Facebook post from a woman boasting how she is teaching her sons and raising them up right, by teaching them respect for women. She thought her boys should run up and open doors for women and found it an outrage if they didn't do it. This was respect for women and something any decent man owed all women.

So, I have a bit of an issue with this.

I'm all for basic human decency, courtesy, and respect for our fellow man (meaning "mankind" in general, not the gender). I hold doors open for men and women alike. I'll leave a gap when stopped in traffic so someone can hop out from a side street or lot instead of leaving them waiting God only knows how long for a break in traffic. I try not to trample over people in conversation and patiently wait for them to finish even if I don't agree with what they're saying. Et cetera.

My problem is the notion that one gender is better in some way and deserves more respect and courtesy than the other, and the lesser gender is obligated to display certain due courtesy and respect to their betters. They could argue that they're not saying one is above the other and due greater respect, but then how do they balance this? What do they teach their daughters is respect women owe to men? If there isn't anything, then they have no defense and, whether they will admit it or not, entertain the belief that women are better than men and due special treatment as such.