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Are You a Lady? ?

(239 Posts)
FannyCornforth Mon 30-May-22 12:20:28

Hello!
(No, don’t worry, it’s not about toilets.)

What do you think about being called a lady?

I’ve found myself using the plural on a few occasions on here;
and I always slightly feel as if I should apologise, or ask permission.
In fact, in the past, I have done the latter.

As a young 80’s feminist, I used to really dislike the word; and I would berate my poor mother for using the word (what a flipping sanctimonious child I was!)

But now, I don’t mind lady at all, in fact I like it. Perhaps we should reclaim it…

So what do you think? Yay or nay?
(Now would be a fantastic time for the Mumsnet voting buttons - forget a like button, we need those bad boys)

Thank you smilebrew

Yammy Sun 05-Jun-22 10:05:40

I'm Lady Muck at the moment! The cows have been up the village and the farmers are muck spreading not the time for a country walk, more a wade in wellingtons.
I, ve been called all sorts during the years and answer to anything. When I worked I was miss, mummy and at about 35 granny. my name was even double-barreled at one point when I got married and had to finish the term the children did not know what to call me.
I do hope my friends consider in my manners I am a lady.

StarDreamer Sun 05-Jun-22 10:00:07

Germanshepherdsmum

Have you never been asked by a cabbie ‘Where to, Squire?’, SD?

No, but I have only been in a London taxi once, years ago, and I was accompanying a manager senior to me and he spoke with the taxi driver and I did not hear the conversation.

Germanshepherdsmum Sun 05-Jun-22 09:46:29

Have you never been asked by a cabbie ‘Where to, Squire?’, SD?

CarrieAnn Sat 04-Jun-22 22:26:22

As my grandfather always said,I don't care what you call me so long as it's not to late for my dinner

nadateturbe Sat 04-Jun-22 22:09:10

Jodieb

I dislike Madam by a sales assistant but Mam sounds ok

I don't like Mam, ever since a friend who worked for a Marchioness near where I lived in NI, told me she had to bring
Lady X her morning tea, open the curtains, and say Good morning Ma'am.

ixion Sat 04-Jun-22 22:03:38

Why should he not be saying
'Well, Squire, you've got a cracking little banger there, should see both you and me out at this rate".

ixion Sat 04-Jun-22 22:00:46

This is a desperately skewed view of your fellow man.
I despair.

StarDreamer Sat 04-Jun-22 21:52:35

I am suggesting that by starting "Well squire" he is likely to be about to state that what needs to be done will be costly, and perhaps it is worth considering scrapping the car and getting another car. Either alternative is likely to be expensive.

ixion Sat 04-Jun-22 20:41:20

StarDreamer

I am not treating it with cynicism, I am just saying that I have only very rarely heard it used to me and never by me.

For example, when a garage mechanic who is reporting his inspection of the man's car commences with "Well squire, ..."

What are you reading into this? You seem to be implying that he will be charging you more.
If not, what?

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 04-Jun-22 20:40:14

How odd. Where do you live?

StarDreamer Sat 04-Jun-22 20:34:12

I am not treating it with cynicism, I am just saying that I have only very rarely heard it used to me and never by me.

ixion Sat 04-Jun-22 20:12:56

Not even a "thanks, mate"?

All part of life's rich pageant, and certainly nothing which you should be treating with cynicism.

hollysteers Sat 04-Jun-22 20:12:32

Whatever we use, it would appear someone is going to be offended ?

StarDreamer Sat 04-Jun-22 20:05:40

ixion

StarDreamer

FannyCornforth

Nothing wrong at all with squire
It’s simultaneously polite and friendly

When "Well squire" is said by a garage mechanic it often turns out to be indicative of expensive repairs being needed.

Oh, how positively stupid.
Has no-one ever had friendly, sociable, man-to-man interaction with you, StarDreamer?

Oh I have often had friendly socialiable interaction with people, some men, some women, but only very rarely have I been addressed as squire or mate. Only addressed as squire at one garage many years ago, not at any other garage. Just greeting and greeted with "Hello" or "Good morning" or similar.

ixion Sat 04-Jun-22 19:14:30

StarDreamer

FannyCornforth

Nothing wrong at all with squire
It’s simultaneously polite and friendly

When "Well squire" is said by a garage mechanic it often turns out to be indicative of expensive repairs being needed.

Oh, how positively stupid.
Has no-one ever had friendly, sociable, man-to-man interaction with you, StarDreamer?

FannyCornforth Sat 04-Jun-22 19:04:56

Well, SD, the operative word in your sentence is ‘mechanic’ as opposed to ‘squire’
The person in question is trying to ingratiate you

Iam64 Sat 04-Jun-22 19:03:07

I’m a woman, I dislike ‘ladies’, class ridden and so often patronising.
No problem with guys, particularly when used by my 6 and 7 year old grandsons, As in ‘come on guys, let’s do it’. It is usually great fun.

I used to loathe ‘ girls’, but I wonder about re-claiming that ?

StarDreamer Sat 04-Jun-22 18:58:26

FannyCornforth

Nothing wrong at all with squire
It’s simultaneously polite and friendly

When "Well squire" is said by a garage mechanic it often turns out to be indicative of expensive repairs being needed.

FannyCornforth Sat 04-Jun-22 18:48:28

Nothing wrong at all with squire
It’s simultaneously polite and friendly

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 04-Jun-22 18:04:05

No problem. Who could possibly take offence?

CaravanSerai Sat 04-Jun-22 18:01:51

Of course it is. London cabbies and publicans. Where to, squire? What are you having, squire?

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 04-Jun-22 17:54:17

Common parlance in some places. I could think of far less pleasant modes of address. What’s the problem?

ixion Sat 04-Jun-22 17:51:05

Whatever definition the Lexicon proffers (and I shan't be pursuing it), my father used it a lot and was addressed as such frequently. I have no problem with it - does/did anyone else?

StarDreamer Sat 04-Jun-22 17:37:00

Men need to be wary when addressed as squire.

For example, when a garage mechanic who is reporting his inspection of the man's car commences with "Well squire, ..."

www.lexico.com/definition/squire

luluaugust Sat 04-Jun-22 17:10:49

Stardreamer naturally I am delightful, if not a lady !