Revolving Door Etiquette

One of my co-workers (a female) and I were about to walk out of the building as we were leaving work today. There was a revolving door, and I motioned her to go first. She asked me to go first. And then, I insisted, "Ladies first." After she went first, she informed me about the etiquette when it comes to revolving doors. Apparently men are to go first since the traditional thinking is that men are physically stronger so they should have an easier time spinning the door. If I was in New York, I would have known about this instead of making this faux pas. Being in L.A., I just didn't come across revolving doors that much. I went home and checked online and she was right.

I've always thought that women go first, but this happens to be one of the rare exceptions to that rule. I always open doors for ladies. In fact, I've always waited and held doors open for the fairer sex and guys too. Sometimes, other people I'm with have to wait for me since I get stuck holding the door when a bunch of people keep walking through the door.

One time in law school, I was trying to open doors for a female classmate of mine as we entered the law school library. If you have been to the University of San Diego School of Law library, you would know exactly what I mean when guys have it rough trying to be chivalrous. When you open the main door to the library building and hold it open for a lady, you then have to rush past her to open another set of doors inside the building that leads to the main entrance to the library itself. There is another set of doors about 15-20 feet away from the second set of doors. So, you have to open and hold a third set of doors before she finally enters the library. It's hard trying to be chivalrous and look cool when you're constantly opening and holding doors and then running to open more doors so that she won't have to open them. You've got to do it without looking like a geeky fool. I remember that one girl laughed because I was trying so hard to open all the doors for her. She should have walked slower.