Are You a Lady? ?

StarDreamer

Usernametaken
Don’t mind being called a Lady, what I despise is being called “Madam” !!!!!
Makes me cringe ?
Can you say why please?

I had not quoted before, I had not realised that the discussion had received further posts.

StarDreamer because it makes me feel really old. Remember my dear late Mum saying the same. Just hate it tbh.

Are you a lady?

Of course. I’m a woman too.

I like the term lady. I prefer it to woman and would far rather, when with my friends, be referred to as ladies rather than guys.

I am a woman who is mostly OK with being called a lady, so long as it isn't done in a patronising manner.
Recently, I was greeted by a close male friend with the line, "Hallo, my little lady!" as he swept me up in a hug. I thought afterwards that, if that had been uttered by anyone else, I would probably have withered the culprit with my 10 Gigawatt glare but this was so cheery and welcoming, I could not possibly be offended.

I know it's totally illogical but I do cringe and grind my teeth if I ever hear a man referring to "my good lady wife".

A quote from my headmistress. " Every lady is a woman but not every woman is a lady" She tried very hard to turn us out as ladies, Strong , independent , self-sufficient and dare I say it superior . I like the title Lady but with apologies to her I am a Fellow.

Usernametaken

StarDreamer

Usernametaken
Don’t mind being called a Lady, what I despise is being called “Madam” !!!!!
Makes me cringe ?
Can you say why please?

I had not quoted before, I had not realised that the discussion had received further posts.

StarDreamer because it makes me feel really old. Remember my dear late Mum saying the same. Just hate it tbh.

Thank you for replying and thank you for explaining.

I hope I act towards others as a lady would.

I'm not a guy. I still meet the 'girls'. Apart from that, I'm a lady.
Twice shop assistants have referred to me as 'wee woman', which is used quite a lot in N Ireland. As in, "could you show this wee woman where the dresses are?"
Wee woman!! How rude.

Don’t like being called woman or female.
I like using the term lady and like being a lady.
I’ve noticed in recent years some will say ‘Hello Guys’. I’m not a guy. Truly irks me.
On this site, I know some don’t mind these words but I do. If others want to use these terms, please not to me.

I try and fail to be ladylike so I suppose that makes me a woman definitely not a girl.

Blimey nadateturbe, ‘wee woman’! That does sound rude.

Remember ‘little man’?
As in, ‘we’re getting a little man in to landscape the gardens’

It would be 'wee man' in NI FannyC. I don't like the word 'wee' used instead of little.
But yes I know what you mean.

I dislike Madam by a sales assistant but Mam sounds ok

Stardreamer naturally I am delightful, if not a lady !

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

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?

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

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

No problem. Who could possibly take offence?

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

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.

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 ?

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

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?

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.