LADIESFIRST 　　ItisthecustominAmericatogivewomenspecialtreatment.Althoughtherewasatimewhentheyweredeniedtherighttovoteandtheirproperplacewasconsideredtobeinthehome,theywerealwayslookeduponasthe"fairsex."Aman'sjobwasseenasthatofthebreadwinner;awoman'spositionwasthatofthehomemaker.Themanbringshomethebaconandthewomantakescareofthenest. 　　Alongwiththissubservientrolecamecertainprivileges.Awomanwasgivenapriorityinvarioussocialsituationsandtreatedwithbothreverenceandrespect.Thisrespectshejustlyearnedifshewerebothacaringmotherandafaithfulwife. 　　Inthepastithasbeenthegentleman'sresponsibilitytobeherprotectorandescort.Eventodayamanwithproperbreedingandgoodmannerwillpolitelyopenthedoorforalady,helpheronwithhercoatwhennecessaryandescorthertothedoorofherhomeafteradate,makingsuresheissafelywithintheconfinesofherhome. 　　Likewise,whenamantakesawomanoutfordinner,itisconsideredpolitetoassistherwithherchairwhenshegetsuporsitsdown.Onacrowdedtrainorbus,itisaltogetherproperforamantoofferawomanhisseatespeciallyifsheiselderlyorpregnant. 　　Thisrespectforwomendatesbackperhapstothetimeofchivalrywhenmenfoughtduelsforthehandofafairmaiden.Theritualofcourtshipinvolvedtheenduranceofgreathardships,thedemonstrationofvaliantcourageandthecourtesyofgoodmanners. 　　Evenwhenitcomestoshakinghandsladiescomefirst.Itisconsideredimpoliteforamantoextendhishandtoawomanforahandshakeuponfirstgreeting.Thisremainsthewoman'soption.Ifawomandoesnotextendherhandtothemanfirst,thenthemanshouldrefrainfromofferinghis.Inthissensethewoman'schoicecomesfirst. 　　Notonlydoladiescomefirst,butifsheisthewifeofthepresident,sheiscalledthe"FirstLady"andwomencontinuetobreaknew"first"categoriesbyenteringintofieldsofsocialserviceonceconsideredexclusivelytherealmofmen.AmericanowhashadafirstwomanSecretaryofStateinthepersonofMadelineAlbrightanda"first"womanpresidentmaynotbefaroffinthefuture. 　　ThereisnodoubtthattheWomen'sliberationmovementhasputwomenonanequalfootingwithmenwithrespecttojobsandcareeropportunities.Therecanalsobenodenyingthatmanywomentodayprefertobetreatedthesameasmenineveryway.Yet,inspiteoftheirnewfreedomandsocialequalitynoneofthemseemtoobjecttotheruleof"ladiesfirst."