To me the pulling out of one's chair is something that is different from most formalities/signs of courtesy. It is something exclusively done by men for women and really doesn't have a place in a business competition.

I don't mean to defend Audrey. Lord knows she's fallen out of favor with me these past weeks. And yes we didn't even need that exchange between John and Audrey to see that Audrey has issues. Nevertheless that doesn't detract from John's assholish ways.

Saying that a word can be substituted here and there is undermining the importance of semantics. 'Sweetheart' would never be accurate in describing Jennifer Massey. She was anything but! When John uses a "cutesy" word like 'sweetheart' he is talking down to Audrey in part because she's female. Because of course the word sweetheart would NEVER be used as an asset for a man in business. The valid criticisms against Jennifer Massey relying too much on her charisma didn't have that same connotation.