What do you think of the word "lady"?

[yurbud]

[Crazy Guggenheim]

1. I remember when we had "ladies" and not "women"!!

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[NMMNG]

3. And I recall when there were men and not just overgrown boys

[Crazy Guggenheim]

4. And sheep were nervous.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[NMMNG]

5. Maybe where you live

[spacelady]

8. I like to use the word lady when referring to a female I don't know

personally, as in, "That lady looked familiar." If they are doing something shocking or rude they become, That woman or worse

[yurbud]

11. lady=old, woman=older than me, chick=peer, girl=significantly younger

than me.

[NMMNG]

2. Depending on how it is used it could be 1 or 4

If used politely it denotes a classy woman. If used perjoratively it is demeaning and sexist, typically by men who want the woman to STFU.

[yurbud]

9. the first sounds condescending, like when Congressmen say

"the lady from..."

[NMMNG]

12. Yeah, I don't like that

For some reason it doesn't have the pleasant ring that "gentleman" does, possibly because we've heard it used in such disparaging tones over the years.

[khashka]

6. Other.

A term of affectionate respect.


But you ladies won't lets guys say anything! I've already been roundly abused for saying "chick" and "girl" I've even gotten complaints for "woman".

Fuck it! You are all ladies to me - let the backlash begin.


Khash.

[Heidi]

13. I think some people don't understand

that "girl" is just one of the things we say to one another in some parts of the south. When I called my favorite cousin a couple of months ago, he immediately said, "Hey, girl! How you doin'?" It's not about age (he's 10 years younger than me); in this context, it's about familiarity and affection. :)

(You'll get no abuse from me khash. For me, intent is a huge part of context, so I wouldn't be bothered by your use of any of those terms. :hug: )

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. I find it presumptious

And I :eyes: when some bozo comes into a chat room or something and says "Hello, ladies" (or, "hello ladys") because you know what they're about.

And I hate it, hate it, hate it when media types discern between men's and women's teams by calling the women's "Lady Mustangs" or whatever. Besides sometimes being biologically impossible, such sobriquets are quite sexist. When I was a sports editor, I didn't allow it.

[khashka]

14. Yeah that pisses me off too

Lady Mustangs my ass! Like a woman couldn't be a real athlete but isn't it cute when she tries! Makes my blood boil. I look at those sportscasters and think " Boy. She could kick your ass."

Khash.

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. Or take your head off with a pitch

Ever watch NCAA softball? Those women can play. Hell, I wouldn't bat against most of the high-school softball pitchers around here. :scared:

You'd think the "lady" bit would've gone out in the '70s, but, alas, I still see many newspapers and teevee fucks doing it. :grr:

[yurbud]

19. What should they be called, the Mustang Sallys?

[Orsino]

30. Yep. It ain't the word as much as it is the context.

"Ladies and gentlemen" as it's typically used, connotes respect, even if there's a touch of sexism in it.

My high school's arch-rivals were the "Dukes." Guess what they called their girls' teams? Go on, guess.

The "Dukettes." That violated laws of nature.

[radwriter0555]

10. *Bragging Rights* I'm a Lady by title. My husband is a Count by birth,

a french one, no less.

Yep, I married a bona fide French Count. I'm a Countess!

I am formally titled as Madame le Comtesse Txxxxx Exxxx Von Bxxx de Mxxxxx Roqxxxx...

His family history goes back to service as warriors under William The Conqueror, and is directly traced related through the the royal courts in the French Revolution (his family lost many heads he says, as they were "...on the wrong side...).

There are 2 distinct sides to the family, one remaining in England where the name is more prevelant due to survival and the lack of a revolution to chop off the heads, and just a couple remaining here in France. His uncle is far more well known for a brilliant and well reputed winery in the region near Paris from where they're from.

Good, fun story, eh?

[yurbud]

15. how do you pronounce all them x's m'lady?

[uppityperson]

17. I'm no lady

Marx brothers, wasn't it? That's no lady, that's my wife. The connotations of "lady" seem too uppity (I know), too upper class, snooty, ready to faint at the drop of a hat, must have doors opened for her, doesn't know how to (or enjoy) operating a chainsaw. It can be used respectfully and I am amused also by being called ma'am, but I prefer to think of myself, and my sisters and friends and people of the female gender as women as it seems more equal.

[Skittles]

18. Sparkling, clear and lovely, you're my LA-DY!!!

LADY
Styx


Lady when I'm with you I'm smiling
Give me all your love
Your hands build me up when I'm sinking
Touch me and my troubles all fade

Lady from the moment I saw you standing all alone
You gave all the love that I needed
So shy like a child who had grown
You're my

Lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear and lovely
You're my lady

Lady turn me on when I'm lonely
show me all your charms
Evenings when you lay down beside me
Take me gently into your arms
You're my.

Lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear and lovely
You're my lady

[bumblebee1]

20. It depends how it is used.

I will use the term ladies whenever referring to a group of women. It gets irritating whenever the term lady is used to describe women's sports. The only two sports where the word lady is used is in golf and figure skating. Women's is used in everything else, ie:gymnastics, basketball, tennis, etc. Personnaly, I've always hated the phrase, "behave like a young lady." It implies that you should sit back and let everyone else get what they want.

[last_texas_dem]

21. I think it depends on the context and tone

I like the "respectful in a quaint way" option, but yeah, if said in a certain tone it can be offensive. Then again, so can "woman" and probably most other terms used to address females.

[SOteric]

22. I think of Jerry Lewis.

For the most part, it seems a fairly charming way of addressing a female individual otherwise unknown.

It can be said in such a way as to be oozing with Leisure Suit Larry overtones. That would be creepy. It is often employed by persons who do not speak English as a native language. In which case, I'm inclined to cut large amount of slack with regard to what I interpret from their tone or phrasing.

It depends.

It's all in the context, the tone, the body language and the interpersonal relationship or lack thereof.

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. Didn't think o' Jerry Lewis

LAAAAAYYYYYYDEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

[yurbud]

25. I'm still waiting for his holocaust clown movie that won't be released

until he dies.

Its about a clown who leads kids into the gas chambers. He liked it, but studio execs were horrified, and it will be locked up until he dies.

[Strong Atheist]

24. "It's nice, respectful"

At least, that is the way I use it ...

[datasuspect]

26. i prefer "womyn"

[CanuckAmok]

27. That's easy:

[Maddy McCall]

29. Why is that old, white haired dude making a gang hand signal?

[CanuckAmok]

31. Because he's in "The Gamblaz"

Straight Outta Branson.

[In_The_Wind]

32. Perfect! It's all about the intent of the word.

However - if it implies that I need to use the Lady's Tee in golf or something that's been modified because I'm the weaker sex - then I don't care for the word.

[tuvor]

28. It's in the same league as "gentleman" and I use both all the time.

I've never had a negative reaction.

[quiet.american]

33. I love it. I also like being treated like one!

A charming man who effortlessly knows how to treat me like a lady works for me! Pretty rare in this day and time where the usual greeting for me and my girlfriends is, "how you guys doin'."