(incoherent?) ramblings…

I fear the Web has erased any sense of modesty or class in our society. Nothing is private anymore. Nothing is off limits. Nothing is censored. In addition, the Web puts men and women on the same playing field. While this is a positive thing, our feminism push seems to have reached its peak on the Web and, at the risk of offending people, overstepped in some instances.

I fear the female gender has lost something… not innocence, per se… more like elegance. Women have longed for equality on every level… demanded it even. For good reason. But at what point did equality come to mean that we all act like pigs? Where did all the manners go?

When did it become blasé to burp or fart out loud in public? Why is it necessary to post rude pictures on facebook grabbing each other’s boobs or making out? When did vulgar swear words become a part of our everyday lingo? Just because we are free to do these things, to act like impolite children who don’t know any better, doesn’t mean we should. If anything, feminism should make us more proud to be women. We should be more classy, not less. More demanding of respect, not more open to degradation.

Call me old fashioned, but I find it courteous when a man opens a door for me, not chauvinistic. I appreciate it when someone says “you’re welcome” after I say “thank you.” I like when someone offers to grab a bag or two when my arms are full or unlock my car door first or offer me a hand when I’m getting out of the car. When did independence and equality deem these behaviors offensive?

I’m not saying I’m not guilty of it myself. I’ve had plenty of classless moments in my day. Many times my independence has come across as arrogance and insolence. I’ve reached for a door so a man couldn’t. I’ve received a “thank you” without answering “you’re welcome.” I’ve burped and farted and swore in public.

But I’m also growing up.  I find myself embracing my femininity without falling to my knees. I find myself less tolerant of this behavior in others. I find my liberal mind wishing for a little more conservatism.

I think we should be proud to be women. The fairer sex. The “innocent” ones. We know we’re equal. We know we can take care of ourselves. We know we don’t need men to take care of us.

That doesn’t mean we should refuse to let them.