As a society, we have certain expectations of how men and women are supposed to behave. For example, while it is generally accepted that men should be the ones to open the door for women, it is also seen as polite for men to offer their seat on public transportation to any woman who may need it. But do these gender roles really mean that men are more polite than women? Let’s take a closer look.
Social Norms and Gender Roles
In our culture, there is an unspoken expectation that men should act in a certain way—that they should be strong, stoic, and polite. This view plays out in many ways in everyday life; for example, when a man holds the door open for another person (regardless of gender), he is expressing this traditional politeness. In this sense, it appears that men are indeed more polite than women—but only because of social norms.
Men and Women Alike Can Be Polite
When it comes down to it, both genders can be equally polite or impolite depending on the situation. It all depends on how people conduct themselves and how they treat others around them. While gender roles can certainly shape behavior in certain situations, politeness does not necessarily depend on gender alone—it depends on whether someone has been raised with good manners and respect for others.
The Future of Gender Politics
As society continues to evolve and change its views on gender roles, so too will our ideas about politeness change. If we move away from traditional notions of what is considered “polite” behavior based on gender alone and instead focus more on treating each other with respect regardless of gender or identity, then we can expect to see greater equality between genders in terms of politeness moving forward.
Conclusion
Overall, while traditional gender roles may lead us to believe that men are more polite than women, both genders are capable of being equally courteous given the right circumstances. Moving forward into a future where gender roles become less defined could result in greater equality when it comes to politeness between genders as well as increased respect for each other regardless of identity or background. Ultimately, politeness should not be judged based solely upon one’s gender but rather by how one chooses to treat those around them with kindness and respect no matter what.
