confused about 'Love'

My husband does this and I do keep telling him to pack it up as it is sexist. But he does not see it that way, it jars with me every time I hear it but I think he is making a point now!

I don't particularly like it but I certainly wouldn't make a fuss about it. It's not so bad from people of one's own age but I don't like it from a 'youngster' - it's patronising.

I once knew a young teacher who greeted her class every day with a big smile and " Good morning my lovelies" The children all smiled back. Set a new day off well.
I don 't mind being called love,or indeed ' flower by a stranger but dislike 'dear' Makes me feel old

I agree with Orange about the context in which words such as "love" are used. I find it a bit irritating if a much younger person addresses me in that way, but I wouldn't get up in arms about it. (I really don't like being called "dear" by anyone - and yet two of my friends use that term to each other as well as to me so nothing is meant by it).

I think why people get annoyed about it is that it could be perceived to confer a degree of power on the person saying it over the recipient. After all, it is unlikely that such informality would be used by a person towards his or her boss.

However, I think that many people who routinely use words like "love", "sweetheart" and "darling" are just being friendly. Generally speaking, this sort of thing doesn't bother me but, as with most things, context is important.

MaisieD, where I live men have called other men “love” and “duck”. It’s just an expression.

I agree NanaK54 - I think some people just love to be offended and pick you up before you’ve fallen down, so to speak. Like you, they can call me duck, love, sweetheart, darling, as long as it’s not said in a condescending way, and I think we are all old enough here to know the difference!!!

Oh dear. Haven’t they got more serious things to be worried about? Some people seem to see offence where none exists ! Political correctness gone mad.?

Wonder what that woman would have made of the usual morning greeting offered in the office I worked in in North Manchester some time ago. The usual morning greeting was "Y'alright cock?"
It was offered as as friendly greeting and no one, to my knowledge, ever took offence or umbrage.

As others say, so many use ‘love’ in the North West of England that you cease to notice, so maybe it was an uptight visitor? Your DH shouldn't worry about it.
I don’t live there now, but never bother about anyone calling
Me love, dear, sweetheart etc.Although the patronising ‘bless’ gets a bit annoying,?

I felt really ancient the first time a shop assistant called me ‘dear’. Unfortunately I’ve since then become used to it. I’m dreading hearing ‘pet’.

For me, it depends on the age of the person speaking to me.

If someone younger than I calls me Hon or Dear or the like, I find it condescending. However, if they are older than I am, I quite enjoy it.

anna I think the person who got upset with your DH possibly hadn’t lived in the northwest for very long, or she would have realised that ‘love’ is a perfectly normal way to address people!

It is a gender neutral word. I have been called 'love' by other women as often as by men

I think it would only be 'gender neutral if men called other men 'love', Usage towards women and by women doesn't sound entirely neutral to me.

I agree Bathsheba it seems to be thing to do now to find an insult where none was intended.

So what is sexist about calling anyone 'Love'? It is a gender neutral word. I have been called 'love' by other women as often as by men

As eazybee says, silly woman.

I think your OH should have said "Oops, sorry, my mistake. You could never be 'love' to me!"
Some people do rather make it a mission to be offended at every turn . I've little time for them.

Where I live the favoured word is duck, alright duck, thanks duck, even the lady shop assistants say it. Sometimes I think and I am not trying to be controversial that if a man says love to a lesbian they would probably take offence, or an ardent women's libber not pc enough for them ?

In a taxi the other day going the driver asked " young lady, how good is your walking? As there is a quick route if you can walk."
I replied that I could go the route he suggested as could manage the 5 mins stroll.
Thing was he looked as old as I am. And he did save me some money!
Personally I hate being called " Dear". Young person at a garden centre called me Sweetie. Was furious.

The last time I was called ‘young lady’ I was with friends of similar age. We just burst out laughing and told the young waiter that he should have gone to Specsavers. It was all vey good natured

Or before just

Context is everything - I don’t use it in everyday life outside the house and notice its use ( or variants) when I go back up to the North/Midlands. I think it’s usually very clear from the context how it’s beimg used - as Maizie said,it can be used condescendingly just part of everyday normal human interaction in what are basically impersonal interactions. I would never respond negatively in the latter type of situations but in the former.......

When I lived in Sheffield many years ago some of the men used the term of men and women. All sexes were addressed as 'love'. I don't think it would bother me although it would depend on the context. If the man was using it in a condescending way I would find it offensive.

OTH, I'd find being called 'young lady' very patronising...

I love "Hen", my exes daughter used to call me that.

I am guilty of using Angel
As yet I haven't had any complaints.

I like Pet as used by my parents and grandparents

A lady working in a charity shop called me "My old cock-a-lora" it made my day, though I don't know what it means or anything.