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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

Usernametaken Thu 02-Jun-22 21:18:29

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.

maddyone Thu 02-Jun-22 21:35:40

Are you a lady?

Of course. I’m a woman too.

Musicgirl Thu 02-Jun-22 21:41:22

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.

Scribbles Thu 02-Jun-22 22:12:45

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".

Milest0ne Thu 02-Jun-22 22:17:48

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.

StarDreamer Thu 02-Jun-22 22:32:57

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.

Lilyflower Thu 02-Jun-22 22:56:20

I hope I act towards others as a lady would.

nadateturbe Thu 02-Jun-22 23:11:41

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.

LovelyLady Thu 02-Jun-22 23:32:41

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.

BigBertha1 Fri 03-Jun-22 04:47:40

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

FannyCornforth Fri 03-Jun-22 08:08:49

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

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

nadateturbe Fri 03-Jun-22 10:18:10

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.

Jodieb Sat 04-Jun-22 15:04:28

I dislike Madam by a sales assistant but Mam sounds ok

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

Stardreamer naturally I am delightful, if not a lady !

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

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?

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?

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 18:04:05

No problem. Who could possibly take offence?

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

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

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.

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 ?

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

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?

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.