Should I ask my male staff to open doors for me?

Dear Aunty B,

I have an etiquette problem around who goes through the door first. I am a woman in my mid-40s and although most of my staff stand back and let me go through a door first, I have two young men on staff who open the door and go through first.

I always find it a bit affronting and as these two guys do a lot of work with my clients I often wonder what my female clients think of them. I am thinking of saying something but am not sure it is my place.

What do you think?

Di G,
Sydney

Dear Di G,

Sales going well? Profits up? Got the right team in place? No competitors nipping at your heels? Good. I thought so. Things are going so well you can turn your attention to what matters: whether you get through the door first. And let’s face it. There are not a lot of advantages being a woman in a bloke’s world and this is one of them. I love going through the door first. I swoon when a man stands aside and waves me through. I adore it as I sail past and keep walking, setting a cracking pace, chatting as I go so they have to run along after me, cupping their ears and calling for me to slow down.

So yes. Absolutely say something. Next time they go through the door before you, get your elbows out, jab them aside and say: “Ladies first. Didn’t your mother teach you that?”

Of course, they will mutter “patronising old git”, but who cares. By then, you will be through the door and half way down the street. And you will be doing the rest of us a favour.

Be smart,
Your Aunty B

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