Tell all the fair maidens that Prince Charming has canceled his ball. He rode off into the sunset all alone with no princess to accompany him. Cinderella, while flattered by his marriage proposal, kindly declined when he asked her to sit alongside of him on the throne and “just look pretty.” She instead decided to further her education so she can later on, not sit beside him on the throne, but eventually sit alone on the throne as the ruler of the kingdom.

Many girls seem to be following Cinderella’s example and seem to be doing “men’s jobs.” Women in the twenty first century are no longer settling with a “prince” just to be a housewife and do “women’s work.” Women are becoming CEO’s of companies, leaders of nations, and taking other positions of power.

However, when Cinderella refused to amount to nothing but a pretty face she caused unintended consequences. Girls began to become offended whenever a boy decided to act like a gentleman and so boys decided to stop performing kind gestures. Cinderella consequently killed chivalry.

When you type the word chivalry into google, the first definition that appears defines chivalry as “the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.” While this definition is true, it’s also from the medieval times. In the twenty first century, chivalry simply means manners and politeness. When someone is following you through a door, you hold the door open for them. When you see a person struggling to hold all their belongings, you offer to help them. It’s simple, kind acts.

If you continue to scroll the webpage, you come across the urban dictionary definition of chivalry. One of the definitions is “something women complain is dead even though it cannot logically exist in an equal society, which is something women wanted. It’s one or the other.” Or “women killed it… they don’t like when we are nice to them anymore,” or just simply “dead.”

This, to me, is sad. Men are beginning to feel as if their kind acts aren’t appreciated or aren’t wanted anymore. What women don’t know is it’s their own faults. With the uproar of feminism comes the downfall of chivalry. Feminism isn’t meant to mean “girls rule and boys drool,” feminism means “boys rule and girls should rule too.” Ladies, the doors open both ways. It is not only a man’s job to exemplify chivalry, it is our job too. You are not taking away a man’s masculinity by holding the door open for him just as he is not taking away your rights as a woman by offering to carry one of your heavy possessions when he notices you struggling.

Feminism does not mean killing off masculinity. It does not mean that it’s disrespectful to women for a man to treat a woman with respect. It does not mean that women should hold more power, make more money, or be given better opportunities than men. Feminism means women should have to opportunity to earn as much power, earn just as much money, and earn the same opportunities as men. Feminism should be seen for what it is: equality for all people.

So, Cinderella, get off of your high horse sometime and let the prince steer. He is only trying to help you reach your goal faster. Don’t take everything he does for you as demeaning because, who knows, he might just help you sit upon your throne someday.