Springsummer Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Today a new colleague called me that. He is in his late 50's. I am shocked. I thought you only call someone that if she is very young? I am in certain age already. I feel so old already. I am not complaining certainly. Just wondering if he really said what he believe or he just joking? Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Old fashioned people use the term. I've heard it used to describe anyone up to the age of 30, but yes, it is rare. Personally, I dislike - probably because the only kinds of people I've heard use it tend to have old fashioned views of women and I've disagreed with them. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Fresnite Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I've heard it used on anyone that is younger then the person saying it. Even If it's by one year. Stupid perhaps. Slightly related, i was 18 and a 23 year old called me young man -_- But, Also at my work most of us are under 30 years old and one of our shift leads calls the elderly women "young lady" or even when they ask for senior discount he says "no it's the good looking discount" Which obviously both are lies lmao. You say he's late 50's? If He is older than you then i would not take it in a bad way. He's really just using a term of reference. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
mikeylo Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 As young as 10 year old girls are referred as young lady. Only because they feel grown up and it makes them feel good. My sister's daughter is 11, and she loves being called a young lady, lol. It's condescending to say it to an older women. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I think past adulthood is too old. I say it to my students sometimes but they're 8 not 18. Any adult should be respected as such, especially a colleague. Pointing out differences can be viewed as ignorance. Link to post Share on other sites
Shining One Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 People seriously take offense to the term "young lady"? I don't use it myself, but that's surprising to learn. I get called "young man" all the time, but I've never been offended by it. A guy at the gym called me that just last week. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
jjgitties Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I guess he is "old skule". I would never call a woman "hey, young lady". It's a term that died out with All In The Family. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Depends how it was said. If he was joking, there's no rules. If he was condescending, implying you're young and therefore dumber than him, that's insulting. I do not think 50 is an old enough generation for this to be something he grew up with. That's about 80 at this point. Put it in context by his other actions. If he treats you overall with respect, he was probably being silly. If he doesn't, seems critical, seems to want to lord over you, he's maybe gonna get reported to HR sometime down the road. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 People seriously take offense to the term "young lady"? I don't use it myself, but that's surprising to learn. I get called "young man" all the time, but I've never been offended by it. A guy at the gym called me that just last week. The equivalent of young man is young woman. I'm fine with the term young woman. Lady is a whole different kettle of fish. My experience with those who use the term Lady is that they often have very patriarchal views about women. I am most certainly a woman, but I have no desire to be a lady. This would mean that I can't fart in bed or express strong opinions. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
Timshel Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 ^^Haha ...Excellent. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
todreaminblue Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 i dont mind being called lady and have been called that... young lady sounds like what a dad would say....and i understand older people who say it and it doesnt bother me ...a younger man or woman saying it.....i would be sus on....because it isnt normal...i woudl start thinking about their motivation for those words......deb Link to post Share on other sites
Shining One Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 The equivalent of young man is young woman. I'm fine with the term young woman. Lady is a whole different kettle of fish. My experience with those who use the term Lady is that they often have very patriarchal views about women. I am most certainly a woman, but I have no desire to be a lady. This would mean that I can't fart in bed or express strong opinions.Interesting. What would the male equivalent of young lady be? I've always taken lady to refer to a subset of women, specifically those of "higher class". All ladies are women, but not all women are ladies. Thus, I've thought "lady" was something of a compliment. You learn something new every day! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 i dont mind being called lady and have been called that... young lady sounds like what a dad would say....and i understand older people who say it and it doesnt bother me ...a younger man or woman saying it.....i would be sus on....because it isnt normal...i woudl start thinking about their motivation for those words......deb Good point. My icky experiences with the term come from a peer using it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
todreaminblue Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Good point. My icky experiences with the term come from a peer using it. yeah doesnt feel right does it ...makes it icky when they are the same age or younger.....im more likely to call an older woman an old duckie.....or a younger woman a lovely duckie.....i happen to love ....duckies...smilin...and its not threatening or accusatory.more affectionate..which i often think young lady can be motviated towards.....a scolding.....deb Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Interesting. What would the male equivalent of young lady be? I've always taken lady to refer to a subset of women, specifically those of "higher class". All ladies are women, but not all women are ladies. Thus, I've thought "lady" was something of a compliment. You learn something new every day! This is how I think too. When I send my thank you cards to students I address the young men as "masters" to go along with the "misses" for the young ladies. I'd never call them master to their faces though because in my classroom they're all my little bitches. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 Interesting. What would the male equivalent of young lady be? I've always taken lady to refer to a subset of women, specifically those of "higher class". All ladies are women, but not all women are ladies. Thus, I've thought "lady" was something of a compliment. You learn something new every day! The equivalent would be a Young Gentleman. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Timshel Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 Today a new colleague called me that. He is in his late 50's. I am shocked. I thought you only call someone that if she is very young? I am in certain age already. I feel so old already. I am not complaining certainly. Just wondering if he really said what he believe or he just joking? Springsummer, I'm sure he meant no offense. Everyone has their own way of speaking and a universal language that offends no one has yet to be invented. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Springsummer Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 Springsummer, I'm sure he meant no offense. Everyone has their own way of speaking and a universal language that offends no one has yet to be invented. So the conclusion is no conclusion? One simple sentence opens to a wild variety of opinions. Link to post Share on other sites
RecentChange Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 I will always remember when a very proper southern attorney told my colleague to "watch your laungage young lady" while we were on a conference call. My colleague was a 62 year female attorney from Chicago, I guess he didn't appreciate it when she let the S word slip. I would occasionally rib her about being a "young lady" who needs to watch her laugage. She's a grandma for Christ's sake! Link to post Share on other sites
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