where was a time when, if a lady got into a crowded bus or train, a gentleman would immediately stand up and bring to offer his seat. but now, things are different. today a gentleman will probably look out of the window,or if he feels a bit shy, hide behind his newspaper. either way,the lady will have to stand until someone else gets off.
you can't entirely blame men for this change in manners, though. gone are the days when women could be referred to as the weaker ones without causing trouble. a whole generation of women has grown up demanding equality with men, not just equality in jobs or education, but in social life. hold a door open for some women and you are likely to get an angry lecture on treating women as weaker ones unable to open doors for themselves. take a girl out for a meal and she'll probably insist on paying her share of the bill. on second thought, that is perhaps not a bad idea.
it's no wonder, then that men have given up some ways of politeness and consideration which they used to show towards women. on the other hand, the man's active politeness is perhaps slowly being replaced by true consideration for the needs and feelings of women, so that men can see women as equal human beings, rather than as weaker ones or something that can be used to please men.
maybe it is worth women's while to stand in the bus or train.
妇女要求男女平等
曾经有一个时期，如果女士上了拥挤的公共汽车或火车，绅士们就会立即起身让座。但现在情况完全不同了。现在，男士们可能会看着窗外，或者，如果他感到有点不好
意思，就会藏在报纸后面。这两种情况不管是哪种，女士们只能站着等到有人下车。
但是这种礼貌行为的变化不能完全归咎于男士。女士们被当作弱者而不会引起麻烦的日子一去不复返了。新一代的女性成长起来，不仅在工作或教育上，而且在社会生活
中都要求男女平等。如果你为某些女士开门，就可能得到怒气冲天的说教，觉得你把女士当成连门都不能自己开的弱者。带一个女孩子外出吃饭，她可能会坚持付自己的那份账单。仔细想想这也许不是什么坏事。
所以男士放弃了他们过去对女士的某些礼貌和体谅也就不足为奇了。另一方面，男士们主动的礼貌也许正在渐渐地被处于对女士需求和情感方面的真正考虑所取代，所
以男士可以把女士当成平等的人类，而不是弱者或是用来取悦男人的工具。
也许女士们在公共汽车或火车上站一会儿是值得的。