Call me Miss (A woman nails feminism, some understands Orwell Alert)

http://mensnewsdaily.com/archive/p/pawlik/pawlik091603.htm ^ | 9-18-2003 | Amber Pawlik

[longtermmemmory]

This is a short and thought out article. She is 100% right about what happens when anyone encounters a "Mz". It always sends up the yellow flags for a problem person. A pleasant "Mz" is the rare exception not the rule. (then again, it may just be lawyers.)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I always thought Ms. was supposed to be used, when the speaker was uncertain of the woman's marital status.

Also... don't divorced women use Ms.? Would they use Mrs.?

[twigs]

Properly, divorced women are Mrs. if they continue to use their married name. Married women who use their maiden name are called Miss. I loathe Ms. but did find it useful in business when I did not know the marital status of the woman to whom I was writing.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

My Dad told me to never trust a woman with a hyphenated last name, or who uses "Ms." as a prefix.

So far, he's been right.

[longtermmemmory]

One of the most pleasant laywers I have had to work with was a older woman who said to feel free to use "Mrs." for any formal corespondance. She was graciously advising of her preference.

It may be useful for out situation of unknown status but there is every social benefit for a woman to use Mrs. or Miss.

(avoid women with hyphens. Important rule of self preservation)

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[joesnuffy]

Mrs. respectfully denotes an "unavailable" woman & Miss conotes a certain distance and respect
once the generic equivalent is inserted...all women are treated as "available"
it closes the distance...

[inquest]

Not to mention that it's just plain awkward to pronounce. You have to emphasize it in order to make it not sound like "missus". Pain in the butt, if you ask me.

[GunnyHartman]

Official Symbol of the Feminazi movement.

[najida]

Hmmm,
I was raised hearing Mzz all the time, or Ma'am. Ya know,
"I am goin' to see Mzz. Smith about a mess o' peas"

Granted, I know it was the NOW Ms., but more a show of respect.

[KellyAdmirer]

I always thought that taking the trouble to know and remember if a woman was a Miss or a Mrs. simply showed a small sign of respect for a woman. It is an acknowledgement that a woman is special and should be granted a bit of individuality when addressing her. It's funny that the feminists felt that was so horrible and took it away, making women seem that tiny little bit less special in the process.

[twigs]

feel free to use "Mrs." for any formal corespondance.

What a gracious way of stating her preference! I'm making a note of it!

[sneakers]

Well I am definitely a MRS! And if I were single I would prefer to be referred to as Miss. (after all, why ruin my chances with some good-lookin' guy - I'd want him to know I was available!) (giggle!)

[blackdog]

OTOH, My wife used only her first two initials in her published work when she was first employed as a research chemist. After ten or so years and enough patents, she now uses her "Mrs" status proudly along with her first name indicating her female status. It's one thing for a company to hire a female in a heavy industry line of work. It's another for that female to be productive and get cooperation from industry peers. In order to get the respect and trust, you've got a long uphill climb in some professions. My wife will tell you it's well worth it though.

I'm not stepping into the deep sinister ideas of social engineering like the author, I'm sometimes saying that there is an easy explanation of our own making for some of the length's women need to go to in order to make a contribution in male dominated arena's. It just gives the crazy feminists a means to act poorly, expecting the public to accept it.

[Guenevere]

I won't use THEIR term for Mrs.,Miss.....

..I never have...never will....because I know where it originated and it's been a button pusher for me for years!

When my husband was in grad school, and we were married, the feminists were infiltrating the campuses & targeting the wives (mostly with babies) of students and promoting their propaganda.
...they hammered us---at first with velvet tones---how bored, unappreciated we must feel....

...and if we disagreed, it got ugly!!!

I know of what I speak.....I innocently went to their meeting....

..as naive as I was, I knew this didn't sound right.

I'm sick of the feminist agenda!

Even after all this time, I truly hate to get mail addressed to Ms.

If they can't take the time to find out my status, then I don't feel guilty in tossing their mail!

[showme_the_Glory]

Ms.” doesn’t help a woman make her way in the work world, but using the title does put a big warning sign up to men:

I WILL BUST YOUR b@lls

[PoisedWoman]

Using “Ms.” doesn’t help a woman make her way in the work world, but using the title does put a big warning sign up to men: “I am unavailable and not interested.”

Yes. Right. But Orwellian? Snorewellian. Writer digging into vacant corners for material. This is a non-issue.

Ms. was a useful term when I was out working in the world when women's lib came along. "Miss" might make one vulnerable to unwanted advances then, thus Ms sent a message that needed to be sent. Things are so different now, Ms might not be necessary or useful.

However, I do agree that feminists are nasty ugly defeminizing control freaks. Story: I attended a performance by a very funny woman comedian in Santa Rosa, CA (No, she didn't hate men, quite the contrary.) I went back to the lobby seeking the ladies room. I asked an usher-looking person. She frowned. "You mean the women's room!" "No, I mean the ladies' room." She actually argued and wasn't going to tell me until I changed my phrasing....Found the ladies on my own.

[blackdog]

Nothing pisses off a woman who's clawed her way to the top, only to have some Wharton grad join the company and zero in on the first lunch table full of women on her first day and start the "Glass Ceiling accusations, harrassment talk, victim of alpha male agression, etc...." conversations.

My mom used to look for it with each new female hire where she used to work(before Lou Gherig's took her), and once that crap came out, she would put a broom in their office with a note that said "clean up your act or ride it out.......Any questions, come see me". That usually set the tone.

[bc2]

interesting article

[The Green Goblin]

I use "Ms." all the time in business correspondence when I am uncertain of the woman's maritial status and have no easy way to ascertain it.