From an image by Cedric VT on Unsplash
A Medium writer wrote about being called a “young lady.” Immediately she knew the person using that term was seeing her as old. She started to realize how old she looked, especially her hands. She took it as a wakeup call, a sign she’s really getting old.
What she didn’t say was, it’s also incredibly rude.
What did the man hope to accomplish by calling her “young lady?” Was she supposed to feel younger?
An advice columnist wrote that this “insult” is targeted solely towards “older women.” People don’t call younger women “young lady.”
We don’t allow epithets about race or religious appearance, and rightly so. Why do we allow insults related to age?
I would suggest speaking out against those insults. Say, “Please don’t call me that. It’s very rude. I’m obviously not young and I don’t appreciate your sarcasm.” If the person is selling something, refuse to buy it.
If you don’t want to call them out, try asking, “Why are you calling me a young lady?” I bet they think it’s cute.
Part of the problem is that women of an earlier generation thought it was “cute.” In a Reddit column, some people reported they were “tickled” to be called “young lady: (or they thought others felt that way).
I haven’t heard the word “tickled” in a long time. It seems related to being southern and being of a certain generation.
A Quora column, on the other hand, said the practice was disrespectful and condescending. That’s more accurate.
To be safe, stop calling women “young lady.” She probably won’t like it.
And don’t say it’s too small an issue to bother people. We don’t say that when people use insults of race or religion. Why allow insults related to age?
