I was tasked this week to write a short paper modeled on the book This I Believe. I decided that I believed that women always deserve respect and so I wrote.

As soon as I was old enough to talk my parents impressed upon me that I should treat everyone around me with respect and acceptance. They told me to never expect it in return but to make the effort nevertheless. When I became a man my father, uncles and various male figures in my life wrote me letters. Every single one mentioned the same thing, “treat women with respect, it is the mark of a true man.”

In Australia the “C word” gets dropped on the daily. It is almost interchangeable with mate. The significance of the word was lost quicker than the “F” word. However no matter what kind of man you are it is an unwritten rule that you never call a woman a “C." Any man that does instantly loses the respect of his mates.

Women are an extremely important segment of the community, it is obvious. I don’t think of myself as a feminist but treating a woman with respect goes without saying. “None of this treat them mean to keep them keen” bullshit, call me old fashioned but treating a woman well will in most cases get you further than a negative comment or lewd remark. It shouldn’t have to be said, women deserve to be treated well and feel safe around people trying to interact with them.

The Dangerous Book for Boys, a book that I was given on my 15^th birthday offers advice on women. “They are different creatures to men, but treat them with respect at all times. Without them the world would be one large locker room.” I have failed at times to heed this advice. I am not proud of some of my past actions. However I have taken the words from my letters and book to heart. Always treat a women with respect it is what puts the “gentle” in gentleman.