So that is an answer and a non-answer, you resist and don't, yes and no......It is chivalrous because the woman appeals to the man and triggers the behaviour. He wants to be chivalrous to her, because she has appealed as a female to him.
He may not bother with an unappealing person.
I understand your regarding it as manipulative though and IMO manipulative, controlling, self-oriented, ruthless people with no regard for the feelings or priorities of others are truly despicable.

I was discussing ego in a general way, locke, how could I discuss your ego? I don't know you. However, it is a very simple matter to use a man's ego against him.
I appreciate but challenge your point regarding work-based communication; you spend a great deal of time in forums online and must have gained an instinctive ability regarding the character behind the communication.
I wonder if during those online times you have never sensed flirtation behind a comment, or sensed a feminine touch and whether as a result you have ever imagined the person behind the post and responded to that warmth?
It is infrequent on political forums perhaps, but I believe you probably have and so I would not accept that online communication is genderless.
I use feminine persuasion often to achieve my aims, by internet or in person. It is one of a range of interpersonal styles available for use as required and as appropriate.
It's not calculating or manipulative (ok sometimes is it) it's just a technique; an effective way of getting it done which offends no one and makes people feel nice...the man is happy because he's been chivalrous and the woman is happy because he has also.

I disagree again. I think chivalry is alive and kicking and women experience it every day regardless of circumstances and situations.

I don't think I'm chivalrous, I'm polite but that goes for both sexes, but I don't tend to treat women differently to men, at least strangers. I give up my seat on the bus for example but this tends to be to older people or mothers with their kids rather than girls my age. But I agree with Zephyr, I don't talk to guys in the same way as girls, obvious it's only subtle differences but some jokes I'd make with guys I wouldn't with girls. I certainly tend to take the mick out of my male friends a lot more than my female friends.

It's an interesting discussion Viv has brought up about "feminine charms", I can't honestly say that I'm impervious to it, because I'd be blatantly lying, but I think Viv is right. If it gets really blatant then it's gone too far, but I don't view it as any different to any other method of persuasion.

__________________
Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg