Miss, Mrs, Ms

Richie

Richie

Richie

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Just heard a report that, in France, they have ruled that they have ruled out the use of "Mademoiselle" (equivalent of Miss) for "administration purposes" i.e. forms etc as they felt it was discriminatory as women were forced to reveal their marital status. Now the only choice is "Madam".

They had some feminist (self proclaimed) on the program who thinks they should change it in the UK so that, instead of forms saying "Miss/Mrs/Ms", it should just be "Mrs" as the use of Miss/Mrs/Ms is "discriminatory" (her words)

As part of this feature, they went out on the street and asked a few women what they prefer to be called and it was a mix whereby some used Miss, some used Mrs and others used Ms.

Unfortunately, the presenters never asked the feminist "what about the women that want to use Ms?" which I would love to have been asked of her as I think it would have left her stumped....


Anyway, this is probably more pertinent to the female members here (as supposedly there is women on the internetz :eek:), but what do people think - Is the use of Miss/Mrs/Ms discriminatory?
 
I suppose is some ways it is but I never thought much of it.

I always used Miss for a young unmarried female - much in the way Master was the equivalent for males.

Mrs for any female married,

Ms for an older female where marital status was unknown.
 
I've never thought much of it either.

I have noticed at times though that Miss is used fairly often and Master is used very rarely.
 
I'd prefer it if they all just used one term, saves the insulting barrage when you manage to accidentally call someone Ms who for some reason takes massive exception to this and gives you both barrels about how you should have called them Mrs.
 
I don't see how it's discriminatory really, it's just tradition, and can be useful when rifling through bins trying to find out more about that woman you made eye contact with once on the bus.

Much more important things for these biatches to be winging about.
 
The only ones that will care are lesbians or ones who are too ugly to get married. Everyone else wont give a damn. They will be Mrs if they are married and Miss if young and not married yet. Simples.
 
I dislike being called Ms.

As i've never been married I consider myself a Miss, Ms sounds like it should be for women a lot older than me, and I always correct people who refer to me as Ms Day. :)
 
Ugh feminists. Ugh overzealous do gooders. It's just a title - it's something to look forward to changing your title - it's also just fact. Sure it should be irrelevant what your marital status is, but come on.... A 13 year old being called Mrs?!! :/

I also hate the word Ms - it's so pretentious and aggressive feminist. "No you shall not know my marital status, treat me special... I'm different... blah blah blah".

Besides the lack of or presence of a ring on the finger can easily advise people of their status.
 
Freefaller said:
Ugh feminists. Ugh overzealous do gooders. It's just a title - it's something to look forward to changing your title - it's also just fact. Sure it should be irrelevant what your marital status is, but come on.... A 13 year old being called Mrs?!! :/

I also hate the word Ms - it's so pretentious and aggressive feminist. "No you shall not know my marital status, treat me special... I'm different... blah blah blah".

Besides the lack of or presence of a ring on the finger can easily advise people of their status.
Click to expand...

Bang on!
 
Freefaller said:
Must.... resist.... :D :D :p
Click to expand...

haha :D


Personally I prefer Miss, particular at the weekends :)

It's on odd one that.. I don't wish to sound controversial here.. but I find it's the older single women that prefer the reference of Ms, rather than the younger girls. I'm not sure if they see it a threat to their singularity or their age.. In saying that, my wife hates being called Mrs H. She says it make her sound like my mum. Fair enough..
 
The "mademoiselle" title in France is different to the "Miss" title in the UK, which distinguishes between married and unmarried women. I was told that mademoiselle was used as a title for little girls and was disrespectful to address a grown woman with this title, and that we should always use the Madame address.

It's an interesting question as to why we need to distinguish between married and unmarried women though, and why we don't need to distinguish men in the same way (there's never a Master title on official forms). I work in IT, so there are very few women knocking around, however I've noticed a trend here and with my sisters that for their professional lives, they'll keep their maiden name (another sexist term lol) and use the Miss title in official correspondence.
 
They had some feminist (self proclaimed) on the program who thinks they should change it in the UK so that, instead of forms saying "Miss/Mrs/Ms", it should just be "Mrs" as the use of Miss/Mrs/Ms is "discriminatory" (her words)
Click to expand...


Whats the big deal if the feminist agrees that it should just be 'Mrs' for "administration purposes"? Sounds like the feminist sensibly agrees?


I have no problem with a woman not wanting to be called 'Miss' because she does not want to called a girl. I'm sure some men would get the hump on for being called 'master' all the time.

Nor do I have a problem with a women who does not want herself to be based on her marital status.

Whats wrong with the female version to Mr? aka Ms? Thats all it is really.
 
I always found "Ms" to be used on female celebs. Even if they are married. Look at how many of them still go by their maiden names. I mean I am not going to refer to say Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Burton, am I? I would rather Ms Carter or Ms Bonham Carter. Tho I am sure she would just prefer Helena herself.

But yeah some people really do take things a little too far in my opinion. She needs a reality check that woman.

I've called some of my female friends either Miss or Ms, unless they are married. Never had any bother with them. But if they are someone I don't know, if they have no ring on the finger, then I will refer to them as Miss, unless they state otherwise.

Oh and Minxy ;) :p
 
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