Inspired by this question that was posted by another member: https://answermug.com/forums/topic/128830/how-do-young-women-prefer-to-be-addressed-by-strangers/vie... more
Inspired by this question that was posted by another member: https://answermug.com/forums/topic/128830/how-do-young-women-prefer-to-be-addressed-by-strangers/view/post_id/899246~
People sometimes refer to female employees in a retail store as "the lady behind the store counter" or people sometimes randomly use the term "lady" to refer to women. Example: "Th... morePeople sometimes refer to female employees in a retail store as "the lady behind the store counter" or people sometimes randomly use the term "lady" to refer to women. Example: "The lady ahead of me in the check-out line."I've not heard male employees at a retail store referenced as gentleman as in "the gentleman behind the store counter." Instead, it is usually "the man behind the store counter."
I am male, 70-years-old. I have been taught to address women whose names I don't know as "ma'am," when encountering women who work in grocery stores, retail, etc., or just to... moreI am male, 70-years-old. I have been taught to address women whose names I don't know as "ma'am," when encountering women who work in grocery stores, retail, etc., or just to draw the attention of random women that I encounter elsewhere (example: "Ma'am," you dropped something.") A random search on the Internet Indicate that some young women don't like to be addressed as "ma'am" by strangers, because some young women state being addressed as ma'am "makes me feel so old." Or, "My mother is a ma'am, but not me."I don't address obvious teenager girls as "ma'am," but address them "miss." However, I still address young women as "ma'am." less
