Males versus females: Who Males versus females: Who shows more chivalrous shows more chivalrous tendencies in the act of door tendencies in the act of door holding?holding?

Bobby Carnicella, Kass Crawford, Angela DiGeronimo, and Derik

Orschell

Hanover College

IntroductionIntroduction

Many men gave up their spots on the life boats of the Titanic in 1912 to ensure that women and children survived (Lichter, 1993).

If this scenario occurred in today’s society, how would men react? Would today’s men give up their lives in the name of chivalry?

Introduction continued…Introduction continued…

Chivalrous acts such as door holding have been slowly declining since the sinking of the Titanic– Liberal

contemporary feminism could be a cause (Walum, 1974)

Hypothesis 1Hypothesis 1

We expect that males will more often hold the door for others to pass through first when compared to females.

Definition of door holding.

Hypothesis 2 backgroundHypothesis 2 background

The social setting may have a powerful influence on behaviors (Ventimiglia, 1982)

Are the differences in settings of fast food and sit-down restaurants included in this theory?

Hypothesis 2Hypothesis 2

We expect that more door holding, in general, will occur at the two sit down restaurants than at the two fast food restaurants.

ParticipantsParticipants

There were 81 participants. – 50 males; 31 females– 17 singles excluded from data

All participants were Caucasian. Ages could not be determined

accurately

ProcedureProcedure

Pairs of observers at each locationTues Sat Tues Sat

Fast Food

A+B C+D A+C B+D

Sit- Down

C+D A+B B+D

•Sit-down: Empress of China, Key West Shrimp House•Fast Food: McDonald’s, Wendy’s

More ProcedureMore Procedure

Observed from cars outside entrances– Exception: Wendy’s had to be observed

from the inside Tuesday and Saturday nights from

6pm-7pm (prime dinner hours).

Procedure ContinuedProcedure Continued

Door holding behaviors were recorded on a data sheet by each researcher– 100% agreement between observers

All restaurants were observed twice– Exception: Empress of China only

observed once

Results: Effects of gender on Results: Effects of gender on door holding behaviordoor holding behavior

19.4%

44%

05

101520253035404550

Male Female

Gender

Per

cent

of

door

hol

ds

2(1) = 5.139, p = .023, 2 = .0625

Effect of restaurant type on door Effect of restaurant type on door holding behaviorholding behavior

53.6%

24.5%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Fast food Sit down

Restaurant Type

Per

cent

of

door

hol

ds

2(1) = 6.832, p = .009, 2 = .0841

DiscussionDiscussion

We confirmed both hypotheses. Our research confirms the studies

done by: Goldman, Florez, and Fuller (1981). American men perform courteous behaviors more often than American women.

Discussion continuedDiscussion continued

Gender– Stereotypes– Conservative nature– Relationship

Context– Formal vs. Informal• Expense, expectations and dress

Limitations & Future ResearchLimitations & Future Research

Limitations: the sample (Madison, Indiana), all participants same ethnicity.

Future research: diverse metropolitan city, 3+ restaurants, different social contexts & observe only adults.