Semi-Interesting tidbit - Addressing women as Miss/Mrs

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

This was brought up by a visitor at Church who is, as we say, "not from 'round here", and I had never really thought about it until he mentioned being confused by it.

When folk in my area address a young woman, married or not, typically up to 35-ish, she is always referred to as:

• "Miss <First Name>" OR
• "Little Miss" or "Little Miss <First Name>" for a child AND
• When answering a positive/negative question you reply "Yes, Miss" or "No, Miss"

When addressing an older woman, 40+, she is often referred to as:

• Mrs. [Married Last Name] OR
• Mrs. [Husband's First and Last name] (This typically comes from the Old Money crowd. The same crowd that calls young boys "Master [First Name]") OR
• Miss [First Name] if she requests it AND
• When answering a positive/negative question you reply "Yes, Ma'am" or "No, Ma'am"

And this goes for any male from childhood up to elderly. When you have a close relationship with a woman you can sometimes drop the Miss (such as a mother, sister, wife, etc).

I never thought about it, but my brain, and everybody else's brain in the area has some kind of ingrained logic that filters through all this to determine the correct title.

 

[Salty]

For any lady, I will address her as Mrs. or Miss.
Specifically, I will NOT use the so-called title of "Ms."

 

[Deacon]

East Coast

No Miss or Mrs. … no Mr. either.

Generally (informally) just their first name.

Mr. Rob

 

[Salty]

East Coast

No Miss or Mrs. … no Mr. either.

Generally (informally) just their first name.

Mr. Rob

East coast here also
and one of my pet peeves is someone calling me
by my first name - if I dont know them.
ESP IF THEY CALL ME BY MY LEGAL FIRST NAME!
I always address someone I do not know by Mr. / Mrs./ Miss
until I am invited to call them by their first name.

 

[canadyjd]

For any lady, I will address her as Mrs. or Miss.
Specifically, I will NOT use the so-called title of "Ms."

When did “Ms.” Start being used? I remember Mrs. and Miss (married or unmarried). Was “Ms. (Mzzzzzz) used for women that didn’t want their marital status known?

peace to you

 

[Scarlett O.]

When did “Ms.” Start being used? I remember Mrs. and Miss (married or unmarried). Was “Ms. (Mzzzzzz) used for women that didn’t want their marital status known?

peace to you

That's why I use Ms. It's not a political statement. I just don't won't to announce my marital status when my name is used or i have to fill out an application of some kind.

Men don't have to have their marital status announced.

I don't care if a woman wants to use Miss, Ms. or Mrs. It's up to her. I

 

[Salty]

Men don't have to have their marital status announced.
. I

Actually there is a difference!

Mr. = Married Man
Master = unmarried man

For whatever reason - "Master" has fallen out of use for the most part.

 

[AustinC]

Spanish makes this simple. If you are married it "Senora." If you are not married it's "Senorita."

It's the same for me in English. Married = Mrs. Unmarried = Miss.

Now the weird stuff comes with transgender wishes where they want an X instead. "Mx so and so." To that end, I don't fight it if they demand it of me. What I do is just call them by their first name.

 

[Salty]

Agree with most of what Austin said
But if you are female its Mrs/Miss
if you are a male it is Mr./Master

 

[AustinC]

Agree with most of what Austin said
But if you are female its Mrs/Miss
if you are a male it is Mr./Master

I'd go with Mr or "Hey Buddy"

 

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

When did “Ms.” Start being used? I remember Mrs. and Miss (married or unmarried). Was “Ms. (Mzzzzzz) used for women that didn’t want their marital status known?

peace to you

Ms. started to get used around the 1960s-1970s during the Feminist movement by Feminist women that didn't want to be subject to their husband, nor to be bound by their marital status.

Here's an article from MsMagazine about the history of it
Today in Feminist History: The New York Times Says 'Ms.'

Girl power!

 

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

I'd go with Mr or "Hey Buddy"

My wife calls our son "Bubba".

No idea why. His name isn't even close to "Bubba", but she has taken a liking to it as a nickname.