THIS sounds ridiculous but, when I was young, men – who almost always wore a hat or a cap – used to raise it whenever they acknowledged a woman.

They also used to open doors for women, tipping their hat with the other hand and saying a polite “good morning” or something similar. My dad would always insist on walking on the outside of the pavement to “protect” any female with whom he was walking.

This wasn’t unusual, didn’t denote anything sinister or sexist and was expected by both men and women.

Now I know that is so far away from how we all treat each other today to almost be happening on a planet far, far away but it is interesting to see just how far – or how far down – we have come.

The well-publicised story about the disabled woman who shamed two men on social media after they refused to give up her reserved train seat, meaning she had to stand on a long journey is far from unusual today.

They argued that reserved seats had been cancelled and that, in any case, they didn’t realise she was disabled. Some would still say, though, that just allowing her to stand all that time wasn’t the kindest action.

Women have now become so “equal” with men that any physical inequalities are completely nullified. Many women I know would not only not thank a man for helping them lift or carry something heavy but would be quite affronted that they had even tried.

Politeness and any kind of deference to women are completely outlawed, but along with that seems to have gone respect as well. According to the broadcast watchdog, it’s absolutely fine now to call someone an “old bag” on TV as this is deemed “mild” language.

Every action is now so politically correct that even basic politeness by a man towards a woman can quickly earn him the title “sexist” and as for any caring, nurturing behaviour, tut-tut – that is definitely a no-no. By refusing to acknowledge the differences in, for example, physical strength between most men and most women, though, we move against Nature.

Men may well have greater physical strength. I get my husband to open unco-operative jars and bottles and don’t feel belittled in any way. Why should I? He is stronger than me but I have other strengths.

That is just the way we are made.