To think men don't need to walk between a woman and the road and wonder where that idea came from?

[Damselindestress]

I saw this picture on Facebook. After staring for a while I eventually realised that they were saying he should be walking on the street side and that was confirmed in the comments but I don't know why that is considered correct etiquette. I've only heard of walking on the street side when walking with children so they don't run into the road, seems a bit patronising with an adult. I wondered if anyone could let me know where this idea comes from?

My dad always does it - he says it is to protect women from traffic etc. I think it's nice.

Doesn't bother me.

When my mum swapped hands to put me on the inside when I was little she used to say if a car mounted the pavement it would hit her not me. Cheery thought indeed.

Not remotely patronising and I find it depressing to think that it would to be thought of like that. I bring my son up to do it for his sisters, along with offering to carry their bags, making sure any girls or elders have a seat before he sits down, and opening the car door for his sisters too. It's lovely for men and boys to be gentlemen. Such a shame that people would consider those things patronising.

My first boyfriend told me that he had been told at school that it was so the man's sword was on the outside and he could protect the woman if need be. All sounded a bit unlikely to me back in 1969!

Please explain to me how it's not patronising.

Please explain to me why it's patronising?

It's assuming a while group of people need protecting simply because of the fact they are women.
It's assuming that women are somehow weaker or less capable.

Whole group not while group sorry.

My DH has always done this for me, very instinctually. I never really noticed until I was on a work thing walking around with a colleague and he, obviously, didn't do this. It felt so weird to be walking on the outside

Heard the sword thing as well, to stop it getting in the way of the ladies dress. All the other explanstions also sound logical - spladhes, traffic etc. i do it with my kids and if walking a dog. Think it's nicer to encourage regard for others rather than every man for themselves.

Regard for women
Every MAN for himself

Well women are generally smaller and weaker and more vulnerable than men physically.

I used to make sure my Son was on the inside too.
Probably going to open a can of worms here but in some cultures do the Women walk behind the Men, I've seen that a few times.

MrsTerryPratchett dogs should be away from the road, maybe women should be too if they are unpleasant and have something in common with approximately half of the dog population?

It's to protect us special snowflakes in case we melt.

I have been told it was to do with when men wore swords, splashes and chamber pots.

It's a very old ettiquette things. Doesn't bother me either way. Although I always walk in then road side with the kids.

A friend of mine notices that me and dh always hold hands crossing the road and thought it was a chivalry thing. Truth be told it's actually because we are used to reaching for the kids when we cross. It's automatic, get to road and grab a hand . I was in London with my mum and kept doing it to her.

It can't just be to keep the sword out of the way, though, because depending on which side of the road you're walking on, the outside could be on the right or the left, whereas the sword would always be on the same side.

I thought it was to do with splashing puddles and mud and so on. I do tend to walk on the outside if I'm walking with children. Can't remember when I last walked down the street with a man.

TheStripyGruffalo - WTAF ??!!

I think the sword but is to do with wearing it and being able to protect the lady easier from highway men and ruffians

OH does it and I love it. He also does it next to water, despite being unable to swim and it making him nervous He also opens doors, carries bags, sleeps nearest the door and investigates any noises in the night. Don't know where he gets it from as his dad and brother are not at all chivalrous

i dad done it to me when i was a kid to keep away from the road. i do same with my kids now

My DGF used to do this, even when he was in his nineties and had a walking stick! He was what I guess you'd now call 'a true gent' - old school chivalrous, politeness personified. His neighbours and the local schoolchildren used to call him 'the good morning man' as he would always doff his hat to them and say good morning on his way by. I can absolutely see why people would find this kind of walking sexist now, but he was born pre-WW1. Different times...

I have heard of this with kids and dogs but never seen adults do this, or elderly men sitting on the aisle seat! I did not know it was a thing.

My Dad does this. Something to do with cars splashing you from a puddle.