Authority Etiquette

Photo: Dr. Martin Luther King giving a speech in front of a crowd.

The History

In the Medieval period society was very codified. Meaning it was strictly, and systematically governed by laws. Such laws can be moral (biblical and enforced by the church), formal (enforced by the ruling power/police), or societal. By societal  law, I am referring to laws which are dictated and enforced by societies and cultures. These laws are informal in nature, but this in no way lessens the serious affect they had on people.

This post will focus on two intersecting, and correlational laws. The first is the moral and ethical code referred to as chivalry. According to this code you must: obey those placed in authority, fear god and maintain 'his' church (respect/uphold religious authority), and always serve your liege lord. This basically called for an unconditional, and unquestioning faith in authority.

There were also laws that arranged society into different classes of people. Known as the feudal class hierarchy the few and powerful were at the top, and the many and powerless were at the bottom. The hierarchy was as follows: God and his earthy representative at the top, followed by the Monarch, nobles (liege lords), knights, the working class (merchants, and farmers) and then came  peasants in at last place. There was no room to maneuver in the system. The class you were born into would most likely be the class you died in.

The Custom:

Therefore, it was customary to respect those in authority. The aforementioned laws inherently enforced and perpetuated this class hierarchy. Well, technically all Medieval laws did. By engineering obedient, unquestioning members of society the class hierarchy remained unchallenged. It would be anarchy to transcend the class (with all its barriers) that you were born into.

Most people are still taught to respect authority, and to do as they are told. For the most part there is no harm in this. Children should respect parents and teachers, adults should respect the law, etc. However, when you raise a population from birth to blindly do as they are told things can go from good, to bad, to worse very quickly.

The verdict: Leave it (stick it to the man)

I would like to clarify: I am not saying loose all respect for authority. Rather, do not blindly adhere to those who hold positions of power. Question, debate, and engage in your government, relationships, and lives. Do what you are told, only if it is the right thing to do. For example: it is a good thing to obey the speed limit, and other laws. But, it was also a good thing that Dr. Martin Luther King challenged power structures, and societal norms which were backward and unjust.

Hannah Ardent, a philosopher, wrote about what she called the "banality of evil". She argued evil wasn't monstrous, demonic, or other worldly. Rather, the greatest evil occurs when normal people refuse to think critically. This type of behaviour allows for things like the holocaust to occur. Normal citizens, for the most part, just did as they were told. A sentiment reiterated time, and time again during the trial of Eichmann (Nazi). Never forget to think before you act.

Defense etiquette

Photo: Women marching for equality in the 70's.

The History:

The code of chivalry was a code comprised of moral principles used to govern the lives of noblemen. The principles included, but were not limited to: protecting the weak and defenseless, fighting for the welfare of all, respecting the honour of women, and to abstaining from unfairness/meanness. These regulations all basically meant one thing: do the 'right' thing.

When faced with ethical dilemmas the knights, clad in shining armor, were obligated by the code of chivalry to do the right thing. They were called to protect those that may not have been able to protect themselves. In medieval times women would have fallen into this category. Historically, women lacked the basic human rights, education, and social standing that would have allowed them to come to their own defense.  

Therefore, this role would have fallen into the lap of men (most likely an armored, horseback lap). Men, according to the code of chivalry, were responsible for protecting and defending women from injustice, offense, and/or attack.

*Aside: this is slightly ironic due to the fact that Medieval society, social codes and customs were built upon deep seated power imbalances.  Even by the code of chivalry itself. Women were treated unjustly, and offensively. In an ironic twist, therefore, knights would technically be responsible for fighting the very power structures that gave them the power to do so.*

The Custom:

The damsel in distress being saved by her knight in shining armor is a well-known archetype. The custom being evaluated is just that: should men come to the aid of their female counterparts? Should men stand up, stand behind, or stay out of behavior which is offensive or unjust?

It was long customary for men to come to the defense of women, but recently this has fallen by the way side. There is a lot of speculation that this is because men do not want to appear sexist. That maybe jumping to a woman’s defense implies she is incapable of mounting her own.

The Verdict: LOVE IT (a custom worth defending)

Defending women, or any person when you have the ability to do so is immensely important. People empowered and disempowered by structures, customs, or cultures must collectively work towards a positive change.

Being a passive is an act of silent praise; a show of support. By staying silent in these types of situations one is condoning the behavior in question.

It is important for everyone to stand together. Regardless of gender, or sex it important for people to defend one another. This is especially important today with the rise of bullying, murders in the LGBTQ community, and youth suicides.

Stay tuned for new posts each week!

**If you or anyone you know needs assistance the following resources are available:
Domestic Violence Support
Suicide Prevention
Anti-bullying/kids help