Ladies: do women who are very serious about feminism get annoyed when men refer to them as 'Ladies'?

Question

If so how do you feel in a social situation when someone makes the announcement "Ladies and Gentlemen"?

I have heard that some women prefer to be called 'women' and that the term 'ladies' is a little irksome.

If this is the case what would the alternative be, for example on an airdcraft when the air-hostess says "Ladies and Gentlemen please fasten your seatbelts"?

Answer 1

I don't get annoyed at all by the term, but I had a women's studies teacher who really hated it.  She said that the term puts women on a pedestal and has a whole lot of other implications.  I never really understood her reasoning.  I think it's a respectful term and have never been offended by it!  And I come from the South so it is a commonly used phrase!

Answer 2

I prefer ladies than women. . .

Answer 3

I am a lady.  The fact that I can open my own doors and change a tire has no bearing on that. What I object to are words like Unladylike. Unladylike  is usually used as an insult, always suggesting that one is less than female if one does not follow the particular moral code of the insulter.  

But what really ticks me off is when I am referred to as a Girl.   It is demeaning to adult women. The word suggests someone under the age of 15, all blushes, giggles and naivety, a near child, no match for any man.  Unless the person using the word is an older man (the WWII generation does believe it is a compliment), I take it as a deliberate insult said to put me in my place.  I realize there are grown men who refer to themselves as Boys. Those men may be being truthful.  But I don't call them that.  I expect the same respect.

What I prefer to be called is my name. Not Babe, cutie, Sweetheart or Hun, not SweetCheeks, Sugar, Hot Stuff or Girlie. Personal nicknames should be personal, between friends and lovers, not everyday usage when addressing women by the average man on the street.

Answer 4

when directed to a group I take no offense but when I'M referred to as a lady, I do.  I associate 'lady' with someone polite who doesn't speak her mind but is more concerned with what 'society' would think - and that's not me.  Being somewhat of a free-thinker and free-spirit, being called a lady only adds shackles IMO.

Answer 5

Because we are people, I hate "sweetie" and "cupcake" but I retaliate by calling them "mam"

Answer 6

I am a woman who enjoys being a lady, and consider myself quite feminist. It's when the term is used a bit sarcastically that offends me. Oh, what a LADY. Hey, ladies! Etc. It's like a lot of words- it depends on the intent. I think most women wouldn't mid being called a lady if it was meant respectfully. I cringe when I hear about "feminists" who get mad at a guy for holding the door. Geez. That's not feminism, that's a chip on the shoulder.

Answer 7

of course not...thats nuts..

most women marry and dont fit this feminist thing

Answer 8

No matter what you do in life, you're going to p**s somebody off.

Answer 9

I find the term "lady" irksome because I'm not ladylike, and I don't have to be the majority of the time. I would prefer to be called a woman. But it doesn't bother me as much as other names would.

Answer 10

I don't get why. . .

I don't know why feminists would get pissed about a etiquette name...

Answer 11

Lady is fine with me...it is being refered to as a girl that gets to me. I have not been a girl for a whole bunch of years...

Answer 12

Can you say "flight attendant"?

"Ladies" does annoy me a little, because it conjures up images of Victorian women with bustles holding parasols and drinking tea, but I don't throw a fit over it.