When one door closes...

Whatever happened to the concept of ladies first and where have all the good gentlemen gone, I wondered during a special meeting at Tshwane House last month.

- Marizka Coetzer

I noticed nine out of 10 men there didn't open the door for a woman or let her pass first.

Maybe it was the excitement of firing the mayor or the appointment of a new mayor that caused them to forget their manners, but it wasn't a once-off thing.

I hardly see black men opening doors for women, or letting them enter first.

But the many times I've walked in front of a white man, nine out of 10 let women walk first - but it's the opposite with black men.

I can state this so comfortably because I remember how surprised I was recently when a black man made me enter the room first.

Sometimes being an overthinker seems a good thing, especially in a country like South Africa.

So, I ask myself, what was I expecting when approaching a door?

Was I looking for princess treatment, or dare I say, was it because I was white?