![]() The best way to protect a woman is to recognize and respect her strength and personal agency. Yet what if one were to exchange “protection of women” for ‘respect for women”? It’s a seemingly insignificant change, but with that small alteration an outdated code becomes strikingly vital in the modern day. It is true that this version of chivalry is incompatible with the modern sensibilities it belongs to an era where human understanding of gender and equality were skewed and distorted to favor men. Is it sexist? Some look at chivalry and declare that it’s outdated, that it’s no longer applicable to the modern world or modern interactions. Unfortunately, within classic chivalry, these last often merged into a singular goal, giving rise to the damsel in distress stereotype. The original codes of chivalry centered not only on behavior like bravery and honor, but also on protecting the weak and protecting women. Through this addition and the association we have of King Arthur’s court as a classic romantic tale, the era of knights and chivalry has become distorted and idealized, such as in the case of 1987 film “The Princess Bride”, the idea of chivalry has increasingly found backlash as a perceived encouragement of male dominance over women. It emphasizes gentlemanly conduct, such as demonstrations of bravery and honor. So what is chivalry? The Oxford Companion to British History details how the concept of chivalry evolved from a code of conduct for the noble and gentle classes of the Middle Ages, particularly the warrior elite, but eventually became colored by Arthurian ideals. Is this concept foreign to modern views? Is it incompatible with a modern romance? One filled with knights and “damsels in distress,” one romantic in the perceptions of its aesthetics but devoid of equality or feminine initiative and strength. If you have a woman entering this sphere, she is almost always required to adapt to this male-centered system.We equate chivalry to some far gone era. This is because the concept of honor we generally see in science fiction and fantasy exists in systems designed for and by white men. So the very basis of this concept of honor in science fiction and fantasy takes a Eurocentric as well as masculine point of view. That said, I do want to comment that the chivalric code was reserved for men, who in this day and age would be classified as white. Perhaps the lasting influence of chivalry and its concept of honor centuries later in science fiction and fantasy is rooted in the fact that the system was popularized by (you guessed) medieval literature. ![]() Chivalry was a key concept in knighthood, dictating what it means to be a gentleman, and was also tied closely with the institution’s Christian faith. The chivalric code was an informal code of conduct that had been developed sometime between 11. Much of the type of honor relayed in science fiction and fantasy books harkens back to this medieval European concept of chivalry. Most of the science fiction and fantasy books I’ve read, at least those based in Europe-like settings, still adhere to the medieval definition of honor, which include keeping one’s word, fighting fairly, and treating guests with the utmost respect. The way we practice honor is different and has been adapted to our technology age, whereas the worlds in science fiction and fantasy need something else…something medieval Europe once needed, too. Merriam-Webster defines the noun form of honor as “good name or public esteem: reputation” and “a showing of usually merited respect: recognition.” This is not to say that reputation and showing respect aren’t part of our own world, but nowadays, reputation has evolved to mean good branding or politeness. For example, what is the etiquette between two people who can kill each other with one magical word? Or between two opposing armies with starships capable of destroying entire planets? It looks like the answer to that is something the Knights of the Round Table mastered: honor. ![]()
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