Oh behave! We need to make chivalry great again. Amen

Here’s where a 21st century reboot of chivalry could make a difference. Think of it as a form of gendered realpolitik. #MeToo and its various spinoffs – #ChurchToo, #MeTooSTEM, #MeTooMilitary, #AidToo – have identified a common theme: powerful men are more likely to be the perpetrators of sexual harassment. Sure, #notallmen. But there’s a pattern here.

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A renewed sense of chivalry could rest on the pragmatic recognition that, in a world where men enjoy disproportionate power and influence, they are, on balance, more likely to be handsy, more likely to manspread, more likely to mansplain and, therefore, more likely to need reminding that they share a world with multiple others – not just women – who don’t share the same perks. So, gents: behave yourselves.

Look, we can all agree that we shouldn’t need a crude social code that explicitly reminds men not to mistreat women. Still, the hotline of a prominent campaign against family and domestic violence literally spells out 1800RESPECT – even if, you know, respect between the sexes should be patently obvious. Sometimes we need things broken down for us.

Neither would a new chivalric order simply make peace with the world’s present injustices. It could potentially sensitise the powerful to inequality of all kinds. That’s because in spirit, chivalry is a reminder to check your privilege: that all things being unequal, other people are always owed your personal respect. And that an attitude of humility – promoting the welfare of others before your own – is an excellent foundation for good social relations. Pay that forward enough, at scale, and who knows what revolution – not just in morals – might result?

Seen from that perspective, chivalry may present as a darling of the political right but its guiding philosophy, weirdly, skews left – because it has the vulnerable in view.

So, it’s a shame that, as far as brands go, “chivalry” is dead. Despite its problems, we should mourn its passing. If male-female relationships are going to improve then it – or something like it – needs to be revived.

Justine Toh is senior fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity.

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