Please Don't Call Me 'Ma'am'

September 8, 2010
Talk of the Nation
[16 min 43 sec]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129727777

Even when it's meant to be polite, or deferential, for many women 'ma'am' is as welcome as a poke in the eye. The New York Times' Natalie Angier describes the politics of polite, and how women can be addressed politely without inferring their age or marital status.

JENNIFER LUDDEN, host:

When addressing a man, the choices are few, straightforward and relatively neutral: mister or sir. There might be a twinge, of course, the first time you get called sir but, come on, doesn't it also make you feel kind of good. For women though, the choices are fraught. Second wave feminists we're able to encapsulate an entire movement by naming their magazine Ms. And few women think twice about correcting an unwelcomed Mrs. or Miss. But what do you do about ma'am?