Why do people get badly confused between "chivalry" and "courtesy"?

Question

Chivalry no longer exists in this day and age. Whatever it is you're thinking of it is NOT 'chivalry'.

Chivalry was a military code binding the warlords (knights) in the mediaeval era. It was nothing particularly to do with respect or courtesy and it was nothing particularly to do with women. It was only to do with disciplining the 'serfs' (the men and women who were our ancestors).

(If you thought it was a "woman thing" then you've been watching too many Hollywood films.)

Answer 1

Wrong.

Women continue to expect chilvary - and do so because they know men will do it with the minor reward of the possibility of  sxual access. Women expect courtesy.

In both cases, women expect.

Answer 2

chivalry has nothing to do with pampering females. this is a sexist ploy by feminists to discriminate against men.

Answer 3

Since so many in the world don't practice chivalry or courtesy, when someone does, they get all excited and call it the first thing that pops into their heads!!  LOL

Answer 4

Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood. It is usually associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honour and courtly love. The word is derived from the French word chevalier, indicating one who rides a horse (Fr. cheval).

Today, the terms chivalry and chivalrous are used to describe courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women

Answer 5

What it meant in the old days doesn't really apply. We talk about romance, but in the current sense not what it was in the medieval times.

Chivalry is just good ettiquette and manners.

Answer 6

According to my dictionary your description of 'chivalry' is one of the definitions of the word.  The other is -- and I quote: 'courtesy towards women.'  Men are excluded from the defining of the term, so to embrace it is to embrace sexism against men.

Answer 7

Language changes over time.  The original definition of a word often has little to do with what it means today.  Knights must have come to the rescue of women from time to time, and so someone who "comes to the rescue" is often thought of as being "chivalrous".