[DeadGirlsDance]

I don't think it's sexist because as their friend you would stick up for them, regardless of their gender.

[Marshyy]

(Original post by madders94)
My boyfriend fought for my honour.... to be fair he's in a medieval re-enactment group and it basically meant me tying a scarf around his arm and watching him beat up his best friend with a sword in a castle in front of an audience but still, I felt pretty honoured

Only on TSR.

[Arva]

I'm not sure what it says about me either but I'd gladly fight for that. If I saw someone getting picked on (male or female) who looked unable to stand up for themselves adequately - especially if the situation became violent - I would step in.

[Wilfred Little]

(Original post by Arva)
I'm not sure what it says about me either but I'd gladly fight for that. If I saw someone getting picked on (male or female) who looked unable to stand up for themselves adequately - especially if the situation became violent - I would step in.

Well yeah, as I think most of us would.

But if it's verbal then I'd just wait to see how my friend reacts. I'm not just gonna defend someone for the sake of it. For all I know, they could be in the wrong.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by ckingalt)
Let me clarify that I am not talking about protecting a girl from physical assault. That would make the answer too easy. What about a verbal assault though?

Imagine a guy and girl are out in public together. They could be romantically involved or just close friends. The girl has a confrontation with another guy. The guy proceeds to insult her by calling her names or making lewd suggestions. So here is the dilemma.

If women are to be considered a man's equal in all situations, then there is no logical reason why she can't be expected to stand up for herself. She was never in danger physically, so the idea of the stronger sex defending the weaker sex does not apply. So what is a lad to do in this situation? I'll be honest. I would most likely end up in a fight. I don't consider myself to be a chauvinist, but there are still some elements of chivalry which are definitely ingrained in my psyche. I also honestly believe most women would lose respect for a guy that didn't stand up for them.

I would like to claim that my desire to protect the women I am with stems from the deep respect I have for them, and that is partly the truth. However, if I am going to be completely honest, I think I would have to admit a big part of it is that when another man insults a girl that is clearly with me, he is indirectly challenging my manhood. That is not a challenge I can easily walk away from. Even though I know I should. I'm not completely sure what that says about me.

I suppose it could be construed as sexist if you think it should be limited to a guy 'defending' a girl. What if it was two male friends out - do you think it would be fine for one to intervene on behalf of the other? What about two female friends? What about - perhaps crucially - a female intervening on behalf of a male, in the way you've said?

[Arva]

(Original post by Wilfred Little)
Well yeah, as I think most of us would.

But if it's verbal then I'd just wait to see how my friend reacts. I'm not just gonna defend someone for the sake of it. For all I know, they could be in the wrong.

I did say if they weren't able to adequately stand up for themselves. If my friend (or the stranger) put them in their place with ease and moved on I wouldn't do a thing, but if I could see that this person was getting picked on and hadn't been able to easily eject from the situation then I would help.
Of course, if this was an argument in which there was no person easily distinguishable as being in the right I would have no place to jump in and defend the person who could be in the wrong.

[SillyRodent]

A real man would rip off his shirt and say 'come at me bro'.

[miser]

It'd be a good thing to stand up for her in that situation, sure. I don't say that because she's a woman, but because she's a person. I'd say the same if it was a man, only I have to take into account whether I think stepping in would help or harm them (it's conceivable that standing up for another man in particular could make him look weak or have unwanted consequences), but in most cases I'd be fine to direct attention away from that person if they weren't handling it well. What their gender is doesn't matter.

[PoGo HoPz]

It may be a tad sexist and chauvinistic, I agree, but I'm sure a lot of girls will testify that it's a damn nice gesture!

[miss_p]

(Original post by ckingalt)
Let me clarify that I am not talking about protecting a girl from physical assault. That would make the answer too easy. What about a verbal assault though?

Imagine a guy and girl are out in public together. They could be romantically involved or just close friends. The girl has a confrontation with another guy. The guy proceeds to insult her by calling her names or making lewd suggestions. So here is the dilemma.

If women are to be considered a man's equal in all situations, then there is no logical reason why she can't be expected to stand up for herself. She was never in danger physically, so the idea of the stronger sex defending the weaker sex does not apply. So what is a lad to do in this situation? I'll be honest. I would most likely end up in a fight. I don't consider myself to be a chauvinist, but there are still some elements of chivalry which are definitely ingrained in my psyche. I also honestly believe most women would lose respect for a guy that didn't stand up for them.

I would like to claim that my desire to protect the women I am with stems from the deep respect I have for them, and that is partly the truth. However, if I am going to be completely honest, I think I would have to admit a big part of it is that when another man insults a girl that is clearly with me, he is indirectly challenging my manhood. That is not a challenge I can easily walk away from. Even though I know I should. I'm not completely sure what that says about me.

In the case that you've mentioned in your OP, I wouldn't say it's sexist or ignorant. I'd say it's chivalrous. And yeah, I think I'd possibly lose a bit of respect for a guy if he was stood right there and didn't stand up for me or anything.

[hvh]

By all means, I think standing up for the girl, verbally, is acceptable. To be honest, as a female, if I was being verbally attacked, and seemed to be failing at defending myself, I would very much appreciate someone jumping in to my defence.

However, a full blown fist fight would be extreme. It would kind of make you look like a prat, unless the other male started the fight.

[Spontogical]

I would defend either male or female friends.. If it was a random on the street, I wouldn't get involved; that's ridiculous. Though if it were a racist on the tubes and buses of London, I'd say something witty that could potentially increase the views and likes on youtube.

[L-x]

If you start a fight cause someone said something nasty to your girlfriend, you're being a tool, not a hero.

If a friend is physically attacked that's obviously a different story, but whether they're a weedy guy or your girlfriend it still isn't really "chivalry".

[LionKingLover94]

Noo, it's sweet.

[Sternumator]

I think a good stare could do the job without having to say anything. It depends on how the girl reacted, if she did him over with a comeback then there is no point saying anything but if she started crying and he carried on then I would step in. Girls are also emotionally weaker, lads don't need as much backing because insults don't get to them as much. I never know what to say in confrontational situtations though, I would probably aggressively tell them to stop it.

[BabyDinosaurs]

It's a really lovely thing to do, but it always makes me feel kind of akward...like I should maybe just disappear haha

[bottled]

(Original post by Wilfred Little)
Yes. The worst thing is they haven't even got the lyrics right.

"And since a man can't make one, he has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one." is the original lyric. I've seen loads of them about all sorts of topics.

And what's also annoying is it's always the dumbest people who could do with taking some of the advice they post instead of preaching to me.

Nearly as bad as Wiz Khalifa quotes

[Jake22]

(Original post by py0alb)
Well in general, if someone started insulting one of my friends - and it clearly wasn't just in jest - then I would tell them to **** off. So this situation is no different.


On the other hand, some guys get all hot under the collar when people just joke with their girlfriends in front of them. I think its actually showing a lack of respect for your companion to suggest that she can't handle a bit of banter and needs to somehow be shielded from it by her big strong man. Talk about patronising.

This.

Some guys need to consider how **** they would feel if their girlfriend/wife/mum came and fought all of their battles for them.

[HARRY PUTAH]

(Original post by internet tough guy)
Theres a whiteknight inside everyone of us.

Its not a whiteknight situation when some mouth breather calls my GF a slag and I then follow through by body slamming him into the hard, cold concrete floor.

Gob****es people need to be put in their place and I will gladly do it.

[sarahthegemini]

Tbh I would stand up for anyone that was being verbally abused/shouted at, whether they were male or female.