'Ladies first'

[AddToBasket]

A male colleague said this to a female colleague today and I instinctively bristled.

FC: On you go
MC: No, no, you go. Ladies first. [stands back, FC passes]

Me (internal monologue) - errrr, aaaahhhhhh.

MC is generally lovely, FC was oblivious and thinking about other stuff. Neither even noticed the exchange. AIBU for being a bit bothered?

[Doinmummy]

I think it's a nice thing to say.

[AuntJane]

Good manners are such bad form .....

[flappingbingowings]

Would you prefer it if he just let the door slam in your face?

[Ameliablue]

Yabu

[seeyounearertime]

I thought holding a door for a woman was basic good manners? I always hold doors, I had no idea that I have been offending women all these years.

[NatashaRomanoff]

I really, really wish this sort of shit was all I had to get worked up about.

[Sparklingbrook]

No bristling here.

[passmethewineplease]

YABU.

Isn't this just a courteous thing to do?

[PurpleDaisies]

I thought holding a door for a woman was basic good manners?
Holding the door for anyone is basic good manners.

[AddToBasket]

You are right! It was just 'being polite'. MC was just being nice.

I suppose I'm posting about it because I am conflicted. Pleasantry - but based on gender...

[steff13]

I think it's polite. Plus, then I get to go first. :)

[KellyElly]

I would think it was someone being nice and polite. Nothing else.

[wigglesrock]

Just to be clear this wasn't said to you, you just overheard it and it's still bothering you.

[AddToBasket]

I really, really wish this sort of shit was all I had to get worked up about.

Well, if you're so busy with life's problems why are you bothering with this thread?!

[DurhamDurham]

I hate touching door handles so I'd be pleased but that's a whole other issue !!

[Thudercatsrule]

Id just think he's a gentlemen...99% of the guys where I work would either let it slam in your face or push you out the way!

[Aeroflotgirl]

Its polite and good manners.

[NicknameUsed]

Are you always this easily offended?

I really CBA to get worked up about this, so YABU.

[KellyElly]

I would think it was someone being nice and polite. Nothing else.

[ABCAlwaysBeCunting]

In the lifts at work, 99.9% of the male occupants will let the female ones out first. I am a feminist, but in all honesty, this is a battle I'm not interested in fighting. I say thank you and exit. The same with doors being held open for me. I consider it basic courtesy and to throw it back at them is rude.

[buckingfrolicks]

It's sexist from when "ladies" weren't thought to be capable of opening a door. It's the word lady that pisses me off. Lady is an old fashioned distinction between women who laboured (working class) and women who did not labour (mc and above).

[NicknameUsed]

I knew someone would be along to say it better than I did.

Thank you ABC

[AddToBasket]

Obviously, I am not 'worked up about this'/offended! I'm just, y'know, thinking about it.

The bit I'm 'bothered about' is the 'ladies first' comment. I think I said in my OP that MC was being pleasant.

Not overly keen on 'ladies' (a bit Muirfield-esque) to start.

[gingerboy1912]

Yabu he was just being polite and ladies first is just a phrase used in the uk a bit like age before beauty which is a jokey one. I don't think it still has its original meaning anymore. As a fit mobile person I would automatically open a door and let any older, younger, pregnant, disabled people through first as well as my peers, my parents, or grandparents through the door first just out of politeness and social conditioning.