What's with some women not liking being called "ma'am"? (children, husband)

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by TVandSportsGuy

Maam is usually referring to someone who is a grandmom.

Wrong.

Originally Posted by TVandSportsGuy

That's how I feel about being called SIR from someone I;m going on dates with

Maybe if you dated in your own age group you wouldn't have that problem.

Originally Posted by TVandSportsGuy

A female i know who is 36 was referred to as Maam and didn't like it at all

As has been said, it's a regional thing.

Originally Posted by MsAnnThrope

You would never be called ma'am in Australia, in a month of Sundays.

As has been said, it's a regional thing. Every day I'm called, "Ma'am", "Mummy", "Missus", "Miss" and a whole bunch more but not one of them bothers me and never has, whatever age I've been. The only time the hairs on the back of my neck start bristling is when someone calls me, "Hey, A-Hole".

[onihC]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

I do it on a subconscious level, I don't really think about it, but I was raised to address women I don't know as either "miss" or "ma'am." If I almost bump into a lady when I'm walking I'll say "Oh, pardon me ma'am." If I'm finishing a phone call with a woman I'll usually end it with "Thank you ma'am, have a good day." I've never gotten a bad reaction from it (I don't think so at least) but I've read a few anecdotes from men about getting bad looks or even being told not to address someone as "ma'am."

So what's the BFD? Why do some take offense to being shown respect?

You probably missed that thread where women expressed how they felt insulted when they were called females, girls, gals, etc. And it was a long thread too.

[CSD610]

It does NOT make US feel old, cripes, age is a manmade number that others have put too much importance on.

I don't care if I am called Ma'am but I prefer not to be called Miss since I am married however I do not make an issue of it if I am referred to as Miss.

No biggie to me at all either way and I have always been taught to refer to others in a respectful manor so I myself use those references with someone I do not personally know.

[HurricaneDC]

Originally Posted by onihC

You probably missed that thread where women expressed how they felt insulted when they were called females, girls, gals, etc. And it was a long thread too.

'females' does seem odd to me, it sounds very clinical. for some reason I notice black people using it more than others, idk why

[TJenkins602]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

I do it on a subconscious level, I don't really think about it, but I was raised to address women I don't know as either "miss" or "ma'am." If I almost bump into a lady when I'm walking I'll say "Oh, pardon me ma'am." If I'm finishing a phone call with a woman I'll usually end it with "Thank you ma'am, have a good day." I've never gotten a bad reaction from it (I don't think so at least) but I've read a few anecdotes from men about getting bad looks or even being told not to address someone as "ma'am."

So what's the BFD? Why do some take offense to being shown respect?

Seeing that ma'am sounds so much like Man...

TJENKINS: Thanks Ma'am.

RANDOM LADY: WHAT CHU JUS CALL ME?! YOU THINK I'M A MAN?! OH NO YOU DINT-INT JUS CALL ME A MAN! LOOK AT MAH ASS!!! LOOK AT MY BOOBS!!! YOU STILL THINK I'M A MAN? (strips down) LOOK AT THIS. I'M ALL WOMAN BABY. STICK YOUR FINGER IN IT!!!



R.I.P. TJenkins' virginity.

[exscapegoat]

Being called ma'am doesn't make me feel old. However when the kid at the cash register at the supermarket told me I looked at lot like his friend's mom, that did make me feel old! But a lot of my friends do have kids that age. He seemed to really like that friend & his family, so I chose to take it as a compliment!

[Dayton Sux]

Im of the age where people are calling me "sir". A bit jarring....

Yes I still call ladies "ma'am" and I also hold the door open.

Believe it or not I have had some glares on that as I guess its considered un-PC for a certain type of feminist. Mostly though when I do the woman is OK and says thank you.

Good old fashioned common courtesy never hurts..

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Dewdrop93

It makes us feel OLD! That being said - I've never been offended by it and would never make a big deal out of it - but it does make you feel old...

That's it, especially the first few times it happens. I was SO PI$$ED off the first time some little twit did it to me. I was only 28 years old or so, and she was this little fetus, maybe high-school age, working in the deli. And called me "Ma'am". I wanted to reach over the counter and slap her upside her silly head.

But, I got over it. And now I'm in my fifties and it doesn't sound so bad. As a matter of fact, if someone calls me "Miss" now, I am very suspicious of their motives for using such flattery.

[Niftybergin]

I'm addressed as "Ma'am" all the time and it doesn't bother me at all. It's a courtesy title with no negative intentions whatsoever.

Occasionally I am addressed as "Miss." Since the norm here in the South is "Ma'am," I usually wonder if the speaker calling me "Miss" is a transplant. (But again...just a courtesy title with no negative intentions.)

[Koale]

Originally Posted by Dewdrop93

It makes us feel OLD! That being said - I've never been offended by it and would never make a big deal out of it - but it does make you feel old...

I remember the first time someone called me 'Sir'...OMG... I ran home did a facial and dyed my hair. I was totally in denial of being anything other than 21 years old....LOLOL....
Koale