Does this headline bother anyone else?

[motely36]

Shirley Chisholm, 1st black lady elected to Congress and 1972 presidential candidate, dies at 80

This was the headline in my local newspaper. In the first sentence of the article, they then use the term "woman" which I think is more correct. Am I being really picky. Maybe I'm just looking for any reason to be pissed off.

[Crowdance]

1. It's probably about fitting the head in the space

"woman" is significantly wider than "lady" in most fonts.

[Truman01]

2. I know I'm going to get hacked for this, what is wrong with lady? nt

[bobbieinok]

5. from period of second wave of woman's movement (60s-70s)

the word lady was avoided......call all doctors doctors; if you must, say woman doctor--never lady doctor

if you talk about men, then you talk about women......lady is paired with gentleman

it was a time when many of us (women) were super sensitive to language.......lady was also viewed by some as part of the putting women on a pedestal and then perceiving women as too delicate, fragile, pure for voting, working outside the home, getting an education, being doctors, lawyers, military officers, etc

I'm tired, so I'm not sure I'm making much sense with these comments

[Drifter]

8. Agreed ...

it is a word.

I have to admit that I use the term "Black Guy" instead of African American, if I am talking about someone that I know. It is not a diss, and is by no means a display of disrespect.

Cheers
Drifter

[mattclearing]

3. Seems informal. Time was when lady was a formal term, but...

...that time is passed. You are right, it is a poor choice of words.

[tuvor]

4. I'd be bothered if she weren't a lady. n/t

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. I actually view 'lady' as a compliment

Rep. Chisolm mst certainly was a lady, in the very best sense of the word.

:D

[HEAVYHEART]

7. Yup

I heard it on NPR on my way to work. But they said "woman" and not "lady". But yeah, I agree that the headline you saw was a poor choice of words. It bothered me more that she died. :-(

[blondeatlast]

9. While I generally am not offended by the use of "lady," in this case

I do think it's inappropriate.

My son says "that lady," not "that woman," as many kids do, and I see the use in this case in a similar vein; as a diminutive.

Very not cool, in this instance.

And on a related note, God bless you and hold you in his loving embrace, Ms. Chisholm. You were one of the greats, and will be sorely, sorely missed.