Pet hate - being asked for a title

Georgiegirl256

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I don't know where you can have been!:)

Since I left university at the end of the 70s, I had around 10 jobs in 30 years and can honestly say that betwen 10% and 30% of my female co workers used the title Ms, in a variety of job fields and all around the UK.

I don't really understand how anybody can think it's a new thing.

It's only probably in the last 10-15 years or so I've really been aware of it being used a lot more. Maybe actually even less tbh?

I was only born in the late 70's, so probably didn't take much notice until I actually started work in the early 90's.

theoretica

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That way we show up people who insist on a title of some description. Be it "Mrs/Miss" or "Lady/Sir" or "Dr" (when they arent a medical doctor), etc, etc.

Why do you make an exception for medical doctors? Why should they have their job before their name? Would you leave other job title titles like Mr/Mrs Justice Jones?

DigForVictory

I am in a slightly odd corner in that quite a few folk at work think I have a title (even if merely The Hon) & don't use it out if egalitarian principle.
Actually it's my degree I muffle, but as if & when I get my doctorate (frankly a retirement project) then this whole Miss, Mrs or Ms malarkey can jump in a lake.
I adore Barclays choices. Setting up the new baby's account, the assistant scrolled in search of Master & trundled aloud past Master-at-Arms, amongst others - with hindsight I should have said "yes!" sooner & saddled the infant with with an undeserved title of sorts at a tender age.

I reckon if you really cannot stand the whole "and just how available/feminist/tigging awkward" issue, you should buy a worthless paper title off the internet & make those who would impertinently push the issue reveal their true unlovely colours, but you may annoy those who have worked for their academic titles or who earned/were burn with (as opposed to bought) social titles.

Dill

theoretica wrote: »

Why do you make an exception for medical doctors? Why should they have their job before their name? Would you leave other job title titles like Mr/Mrs Justice Jones?

Therein lies another hierarchy.. they first of all earn the title Dr, which is gender neutral, and then if/when they progress to consultant level they become Mr (or Miss/Mrs), marking the gender difference again.

Noctu

Indeed - and not to mention that their Dr title is honorary (assuming they haven't done a PhD or MD) whereas those with a PhD actually have a doctoral level qualification!

Noctu

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That way we show up people who insist on a title of some description. Be it "Mrs/Miss" or "Lady/Sir" or "Dr" (when they arent a medical doctor), etc, etc.

Erm, people with doctorates have every right to call themselves Dr. If you automatically assume everyone with a Dr title is a medic then you need to get a little more informed...!

Torry_Quine

Dill wrote: »

Therein lies another hierarchy.. they first of all earn the title Dr, which is gender neutral, and then if/when they progress to consultant level they become Mr (or Miss/Mrs), marking the gender difference again.

Only surgeons are called Mr or female equivalent from the days when you became a surgeon by being apprenticed to one rather than going to university to become a doctor. A consultant physician, psychiatrist etc is called Dr.

missbiggles1

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I do consider myself feminist as in men and women are equal, however the term is often used for those with views I don't agree with.


Not really, being perceived as something I'm not does matter.
its new to me as well and until recently on MSE didnt realise it had been around for so long..

What would you be perceived as if you were to adopt the title Ms?

Torry_Quine

missbiggles1 wrote: »

What would you be perceived as if you were to adopt the title Ms?

As explained countless times, in my experience its used by divorced women or older unmarried women. That may not be your experience but its mine.

Noctu

NBLondon wrote: »

I'd say... If somebody has a PhD and uses the title in their professional life (e.g. on their business correspondence) that's reasonable. Somebody who insists on it from a retailer or on their club membership card is possibly a bit up themselves. I've worked in academia and the people who have two doctorates and a professorship are quite likely to say "Call me Jack".

I have a PhD, work in academia, and use my Dr title whenever I'm asked for it. As it's my title! & nicely gets around the ridiculous Miss/Mrs/Ms debacle.

That said I would never correct anyone to 'look clever' or introduce myself with it or anything like that...

It's funny how people don't tend to feel the same way about medical doctors using their title.