Being called "Lady"

Goldiegirl

guruchelles wrote: »

We don't have equality in 2013. The normalization of culturally loaded terms like 'lady' contributes to that fact.

The are clearly women in some cultures that have no freedoms at all, but I can't agree that the British woman of 2013 doesn't have equality.

If we don't have equality by now, what has been the point of all that feminism over the last 40 years

Gloomendoom

.Johanna. wrote: »

I agree that's why expect to be called 'lady' and call other people ladies or gentlemen in work settings.

There really is nothing wrong with either term.

Bitsy_Beans

Lady is fine with me and as far as I am concerned it doesn't come with cultural expectations. It's just a term for adult female and is far nicer than woman which feels impersonal to me.

I will admit on the rare occasion I've been called madam I've hated it, feels too formal and uncomfortable. But I guess it beats being called a ho

Goldiegirl

I'm not entirely comfortable with madam or ma'am either.

I go on cruise holidays, and sometimes our room steward or waiter might address me as madam. In that context it can almost be a master/ ( or should I say mistress) servant thing.

I'm not comfortable with the thought of having a servant.

I know it's just the on board tradition and politeness, but it doesn't sit well with me.

maman

guruchelles wrote: »

Hate hate hate 'lady'.

I have three sons and I teach them all to say 'woman'. For me, it's not really an age thing, but a cultural thing, and it's a feminist issue. 'Lady' comes loaded with cultural expectations of how women should behave (ie. "be more ladylike"). It would be like referring to all men as 'gentleman'.

For a while I worked in an all-girl grammar school where the convention was to address a group as 'ladies'. Stuck in my throat every time I had to do it.

tyllwyd wrote: »

Although I can see that 'lady' might bring certain expectations, if you start addressing people as 'woman', it makes me think of Andy Capp, or that sketch 'woman, know your place'. And if you use 'lady' and 'gentleman' equally, doesn't that cancel out a gender bias?

And also (maybe it is something to do with being brought up in a small town in Wales in the 1970s in my case), but I am terrified of offending females of the older generation - I can think of quite a few people (my grandmother among them) who would very much expect to be referred to as a 'lady' rather than as a 'woman'.

I think that for so many people it is a cultural thing to use the term 'lady'. I agree elderly people might expect it but it's definitely very much used by parents trying to encourage good manners in their children so not likely to die out any time soon.

I must admit that I have often addressed people as lady or gentleman to encourage good manners in them. In my line of work, I might say to a colleague 'please take this lady to whichever room....' and watch them almost physically change (stand straight, smile etc) when they realised I had a high expectation of them.

[Deleted User]

I work at a secondary school. I'm in my early 50s and the students call me 'Miss' - I love it, makes me feel young!

phill99

The term 'lady' or 'gentleman' is just a polite way of referring to someone whose name you don't know while they are in your presence.

Why do people read into things?

arbroath_lass

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Here it would probably be the wifie. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I felt really old the first time I was referred to as a wifie, :rotfl:.

Lady is not so bad as previously it was normally "young lady" (although there was often an ! after that, :rotfl:).

It's just a more polite version of woman.

arbroath_lass

guruchelles wrote: »

Hate hate hate 'lady'.

I have to admit I hate, hate, hate "woman". I much prefer to be called "lady".

And I always refer to men as "gentlemen".

Ynayesta

Been reffered to as a lady, for years. People stopped using the term 'girl' when I was about 13 or 14. I think it's mostly when parents say to their children "mind that Lady" or "mind out the way this Lady is trying to get through"

Never really crossed my mind about it being old, especially when a lot of elder ladys I constantly hear referenced to as 'old lady' - I can see how that might be offensive in a lot of cases, but it's very common place around where I live.

Doesnt' bother me, though I think i'd be bothered by being called "woman" not sure why though, nothing wrong with either.
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I'm 21 btw.