Talking Honey: Has equality ruined chivalry?

Has equality made it hard for men to be gentlemen?  Where is the line when it comes to good manners? 

I’ve heard some men say they don’t feel comfortable to offer seats to women on public transport.  There is a worry it will be taken the wrong way.  “Is she actually pregnant, or will she think I’m calling her fat? Is she a pensioner, or am I making a big deal out of her advancing age?”

Is chivalry innately sexist and therefore should become extinct?

A male friend of mine says he doesn’t open doors for women or stop to help a woman change a car tyre because he’s scared of appearing patronising. He says he’s more likely to get a slap for being sexist.

Isn’t that actually rude on the part of women?

Or when you boil it down is it just about good manners – on both sides?

I think true equality is women offering their seats to a pregnant woman or an elderly man or woman on a train. 

I put it to Shauna Anderson, Ben Fordham and Jo Abi and they had a lot to say on this topic in the video above.