There was a time when, if a lady got onto a crowded bus or train, a gentleman would immediately stand up and offer her his seat. No more, though. Today a gentleman will probably look out of the window, or if he feels a bit (36) , hide behind his newspaper. Either way, the lady will have to stand until someone else gets off.
You can’t (37) blame men for this change in (38) , though. The days are gone when women could be (39) to as the weaker without causing (40) . A whole generation of women has grown up (41) equality with men; not just equality in jobs or education, but in (42) attitudes. Hold a door open for some women and you’re likely to get an angry lecture on treating women as (43) , unable to open doors for themselves. (44) though on second thought perhaps that’s not such a bad idea.
It’s no wonder, then, that men have (45) On the other hand, automatic male politeness is perhaps slowly being replaced by true consideration for the needs and feelings of women, so that (46)