What Is the Sidewalk Rule? And Why Is It Controversial?

Something old is new again. The old-fashioned “sidewalk rule” is still widely practiced around the world, even though the conditions that necessitated it are long gone.  

The sidewalk rule dictates a social expectation that when a heterosexual couple walks together on a sidewalk, the man should walk on the outside near the traffic, and the woman should walk on the inside near the buildings. 

This ancient custom has stirred up modern controversy. On TikTok and Instagram, proponents of the sidewalk rule are cheerfully declaring that “chivalry is not dead.” Yet others are decrying this sweet courtship custom, claiming it is sexist and demeaning to today’s woman, who does not need protection. 

Let’s break down some aspects of the sidewalk rule. When we look closely at this simple gendered behavior, we see three sides to the story, one rooted in history, one in science, and one in culture.

I’ll begin with history. Folklore has it that the practice of men walking on the outside of the sidewalk began in Medieval times and continued through centuries of horse-drawn travel. 

Back then, two issues existed. The first had to do with the physical dangers of out-of-control carriages pulled by wild horses. Men were expected to protect a woman by putting themselves between a lady and any possible danger. 

The second had to do with cleanliness. Cobblestone streets, poor drainage, mud, and animal waste set the scene for some very unsanitary conditions. Long before indoor plumbing, people even dumped their chamber pots right in the street! Gross.

In those biohazardous days, women wore long, elegant dresses with dainty boots. Obviously, it’s clear to see that women stepping close to the buildings was a very practical idea. 

There’s a little science in the second reason for the sidewalk rule. Much research has supported the idea that most men have a much higher threshold for disgust.

Yup, many men are willing to do the dirty jobs that most women become nauseous at the thought of (unless perhaps it involves a poopy diaper).

The stereotype of the man who gets his hands dirty at work isn’t necessarily true for all men in today’s society. But it still rings true that men do not tend to be very squeamish about dirt, grime, and germs.

Evolutionary psychologists attribute this inherited difference to the fact that men most often had the dirty job of hunting, cleaning, skinning, and butchering animals for their tribes (not that some women didn’t do that, too!).

In our hunter-gatherer past, when the infant mortality rate was very high, women were tasked with protecting infants from biological pathogens — germs! Thus, women are particularly sensitive to feelings of disgust. Another reason for them to have felt safer away from those nasty streets.

Of course, in today’s times, neither man nor woman could protect their partner from a careering SUV on high-speed city streets, and with street cleaning equipment functioning in most cities, the rule does seem a tad archaic. 

“Why is this some unwritten rule? So it’s OK if a guy gets hit by a vehicle? Either way, it doesn’t make any sense to me,” writes one Redditor.

“The actual odds of someone being hit on the sidewalk by a car is really low.” — r/TrueUnpopularOpinion thread

The controversy seems to come from those critical of traditional gender roles. Those who say that women are not feeble creatures, and it is insulting to say they need protection.

However, I’d argue that the sidewalk rule isn’t there because women lack anything. Chivalrous gestures aren’t about practicality. We all know that women are perfectly capable of opening doors, yet holding the door for a lady is still considered polite. There’s a good reason for that. 

Human mating strategy involves sacrificing for someone else, and relationships are an exchange of care. Certain gestures send the message that a partner is willing to offer care. 

Male gendered behaviors, such as opening a door for a woman or sliding out her chair, need not be interpreted as a message that women are feeble but rather that women are prized and valued. 

Demonstrating care and respect is always sexy.

I think that if any young man today attempts to demonstrate good manners, chivalry, or an ability to protect their partner by following the sidewalk rule, it is an excellent mating strategy. Many women love the idea of feeling safe and protected. And, let’s face it, splashing puddles are still sometimes a nuisance.