Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site utcs.uucp
Path: utzoo!utcs!flaps
From: flaps@utcs.uucp (Alan J Rosenthal)
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: The word 'Lady'
Message-ID: <1062@utcs.uucp>
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 20:00:20 EST
Article-I.D.: utcs.1062
Posted: Wed Jan 22 20:00:20 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jan-86 20:21:11 EST
Reply-To: flaps@utcs.uucp (Alan J Rosenthal)
Organization: University of Toronto
Lines: 11


The word 'lady' confers status on women only in a very condescending way.
When it is used opposite 'gentleman' then it is merely affected, but when it
is used opposite 'man' (for example, most toilets in Toronto, anyway, say
'men' and 'ladies'), it is condescending.  Just like the idea of putting a
woman 'on a pedestal'.  Or when you talk 'baby-talk' to children.  It indicates
that you think of them as inferiors, otherwise you could address them
properly, as you would like to be addressed.

Alan J Rosenthal
{linus|decvax}!utzoo!utcs!flaps, {ihnp4|allegra}!cbosgd!utcs!flaps