A saddening number of men today have forgotten how to treat the women in their lives, bringing down the male gender with them. Men have forgotten the fine art of gentlemanly conduct.

It seems increasingly hard to believe that there was a time when men were expected to pick up the check for a woman or open the car door for them – customs increasingly lost in American culture.

Instead, many men have taken women for granted, making a sport of objectifying them and making them believe they have to show skin to be noticed and respected.  Our reference to them went from “ladies” to “chicks,” and eventually to the name used for a female dog.

The first thing you must realize as men is that if you cannot respect the women in your lives, you don’t deserve them.

Only a gentleman is worthy of a woman, and it’s more than just doing the occasional nice thing for her that makes you a part of this vanishing group of men; it’s your attitude and mindset that should be altered.

You have to recognize that your significant other is important to you and should always be of the utmost importance.  Be grateful that she even wants anything to do with you and never forget that the minute you stop respecting her is the minute you stop deserving her company.

Yes, always pick up the tab and get the door, massage her, listen to her and always show respect.  Most importantly, if you really are a gentleman, then your partner in romance will always take priority over you.

As for women, there’s a lesson here for you as well.  You deserve better.  Don’t let any man trick you into believing you aren’t good enough.

You hold the keys to a relationship and the minute he stops respecting you or tries to make you believe you have to be something or someone else for him, draw the line.

Remind him of the luck he has in being with you and never forget that you shouldn’t ever be afraid to demand his respect.