"There Are Ladies Present"
Bet it's been awhile since you've heard this phrase. If you are under 30, you might never have heard this so let me explain.
In the old movies that I adore (from the 1930s-1950s) there were distinct differences between men and women. How they dressed, what they did and how each was treated. Something you always see is the man holding the door for the lady, or pulling out her chair for her. When a lady would rise from the table to visit the loo, all of the men would briefly stand before she left. Men lit the cigarettes, walked along the street side of the sidewalk and helped the lady on with her coat. When she was pregnant, her husband wanted her to be careful and get her rest. The lady was never allowed to carry something very heavy.
Ladies were highly esteemed by the men. Endearing terms were on the tips of their lips. There was even certain language and behavior that simply wasn't conducted in their presence. Think of the men retiring to another room with their cigars and port after dinner to discuss the war. (Gone With the Wind 1938) If a man spoke unbecomingly in front of a lady, another man would admonish "There are ladies present!"
I like those movies because of the fashion and decor. And because the behavior is so different from what we see today.
While there needed to be an adjustment in some of society's view - equal pay whether you are male or female doing the same job - I think it's gone over the top and minimalized the roles both men and women play today.
When did you last watch a TV show where the father, if there is one, wasn't a bumbling idiot disrespected by both his wife and kids? The wife is the know-it-all who can do everything without that weak man. In spite of her strength, the wife has an edge to her now and is missing any gentleness. She shows no adoration for her husband and they clearly aren't partners in the marriage much less child-rearing. What about the wife trying to sneak something past her husband?
While we poo-poo women in a dress and pearls on old TV shows tidying her home and having a three-layer chocolate cake for dessert, there is something to be said about that. Part of it was the time and the culture. But what about dressing and acting as if we cared? Dressing up can be a sign of honor for the people we are with. Speakers are told to dress a notch above the audience to show respect. Most of us wouldn't dare wear jeans to a wedding or funeral. Politicians are always shown in their boring suits. When I was little you wore your best clothes to church on Sunday and got a new outfit for Easter. When we go on a job interview, we concern ourselves with our appearance in order to make a good impression. But what happened to caring about those closest to us every day? Or honoring the location or occaision with proper attire? My mother used to refresh herself each afternoon with reapplied makeup and a clean outfit in order to greet my father when he came home from work.
Okay, forget about the big and small screens. Look around. When was the last time you saw a man hold a door open for a woman? No one stands when a woman enters or leaves the room. Men routinely scratch themselves, belch and spit without a thought as to who is there. And as far as protecting the fairer sex from off color words -- she may have a stronger vocabulary than any guy on the gridiron talking smack. Chastity is unheard of and both genders are collecting STDs at an unheard of rate. The kids in high school today will be hard pressed to find someone to marry in ten years that doesn't have to take special precautions for the rest of their lives as a result of their current promiscuity.
Do people today even know what it means to blush?
It doesn't help that the entire entertainment industry is guilty of producing media that objectifies and demeans women. Generations have grown up with these poor role models in our faces and have become so desensitized they rarely blink because it's the norm now.
No one says "there are ladies present" anymore because there aren't any ladies present. Women have proved they can do anything a man can do. So why hold the door for her? She's more than capable. The only thing separating men from women now besides body parts that are no longer valued is that they can carry a baby in the womb and nurse.
Ladies used to wear hats and gloves. Men used to doff their hats at the ladies. Now we all wear flip flops and baseball hats and chew gum as if it were cud. Do we respect each other any more?
I think we have become too comfortable with ourselves to the point where no one and nothing is special anymore. What would happen if we all started to do this thing called honoring others and raising the bar again? Using manners, respecting others, speaking politely? Maybe we'd blush again.
No wonder I dig old Cary Grant movies. Swoon.
In the old movies that I adore (from the 1930s-1950s) there were distinct differences between men and women. How they dressed, what they did and how each was treated. Something you always see is the man holding the door for the lady, or pulling out her chair for her. When a lady would rise from the table to visit the loo, all of the men would briefly stand before she left. Men lit the cigarettes, walked along the street side of the sidewalk and helped the lady on with her coat. When she was pregnant, her husband wanted her to be careful and get her rest. The lady was never allowed to carry something very heavy.
Ladies were highly esteemed by the men. Endearing terms were on the tips of their lips. There was even certain language and behavior that simply wasn't conducted in their presence. Think of the men retiring to another room with their cigars and port after dinner to discuss the war. (Gone With the Wind 1938) If a man spoke unbecomingly in front of a lady, another man would admonish "There are ladies present!"
I like those movies because of the fashion and decor. And because the behavior is so different from what we see today.
While there needed to be an adjustment in some of society's view - equal pay whether you are male or female doing the same job - I think it's gone over the top and minimalized the roles both men and women play today.
When did you last watch a TV show where the father, if there is one, wasn't a bumbling idiot disrespected by both his wife and kids? The wife is the know-it-all who can do everything without that weak man. In spite of her strength, the wife has an edge to her now and is missing any gentleness. She shows no adoration for her husband and they clearly aren't partners in the marriage much less child-rearing. What about the wife trying to sneak something past her husband?
While we poo-poo women in a dress and pearls on old TV shows tidying her home and having a three-layer chocolate cake for dessert, there is something to be said about that. Part of it was the time and the culture. But what about dressing and acting as if we cared? Dressing up can be a sign of honor for the people we are with. Speakers are told to dress a notch above the audience to show respect. Most of us wouldn't dare wear jeans to a wedding or funeral. Politicians are always shown in their boring suits. When I was little you wore your best clothes to church on Sunday and got a new outfit for Easter. When we go on a job interview, we concern ourselves with our appearance in order to make a good impression. But what happened to caring about those closest to us every day? Or honoring the location or occaision with proper attire? My mother used to refresh herself each afternoon with reapplied makeup and a clean outfit in order to greet my father when he came home from work.
Okay, forget about the big and small screens. Look around. When was the last time you saw a man hold a door open for a woman? No one stands when a woman enters or leaves the room. Men routinely scratch themselves, belch and spit without a thought as to who is there. And as far as protecting the fairer sex from off color words -- she may have a stronger vocabulary than any guy on the gridiron talking smack. Chastity is unheard of and both genders are collecting STDs at an unheard of rate. The kids in high school today will be hard pressed to find someone to marry in ten years that doesn't have to take special precautions for the rest of their lives as a result of their current promiscuity.
Do people today even know what it means to blush?
It doesn't help that the entire entertainment industry is guilty of producing media that objectifies and demeans women. Generations have grown up with these poor role models in our faces and have become so desensitized they rarely blink because it's the norm now.
No one says "there are ladies present" anymore because there aren't any ladies present. Women have proved they can do anything a man can do. So why hold the door for her? She's more than capable. The only thing separating men from women now besides body parts that are no longer valued is that they can carry a baby in the womb and nurse.
Ladies used to wear hats and gloves. Men used to doff their hats at the ladies. Now we all wear flip flops and baseball hats and chew gum as if it were cud. Do we respect each other any more?
I think we have become too comfortable with ourselves to the point where no one and nothing is special anymore. What would happen if we all started to do this thing called honoring others and raising the bar again? Using manners, respecting others, speaking politely? Maybe we'd blush again.
No wonder I dig old Cary Grant movies. Swoon.
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