"Ladies" and Guys

**Dylan MacVillain** · 30th-July-2012

I am sick of the word "ladies" and will not use it anymore, especially considering that the word "gentlemen" has pretty much been dropped from the English language. The ironic thing is, there are more men who still act like gentlemen than women who still act like ladies.

I have been watching "Hell's Kitchen" recently and noticed that the women's team is usually referred to as the "ladies" and the men's team is never referred to as the "gentlemen", even though when a woman was placed on their team they treated her with special respect. The men's team is referred to as the "men", "guys", or "boys". The women's team is referred to as the "ladies", "women", or "guys". What's more, the women sometimes refer to each other as "dude."

At the movie theater yesterday, I noticed that the men's room was labeled "Men" while the women's room was labeled "Ladies", even though the appropriate pairing of terms in English is "Men and Women" and "Ladies and Gentlemen". What's more, the term "Women" is shorter than "Ladies", so it would be easier to make a sign with that word. If the word "Gentlemen" is too long for a door sign, then just use the formerly common term, "Gents".

I am not being picky. The way people talk affects the way they think, which affects the way they act. I'm sick of women being called the respectful term "ladies" while men are called the neutral term "men" or the casual term "guys", a term which is often used to refer to women too. Therefore, I have dropped the word "lady" from my vocabulary. I don't even say "cleaning lady" anymore, especially since a "lady" would not violate a man's privacy and enter the men's room while men were using it. I say "cleaning woman" or "female janitor." I have changed the way I talk to reflect my attitude towards women and to remind myself that "ladies" do not exist anymore.

Heck, just yesterday, I was at a store where there were only two single-person restrooms and there was a long line to use them. I went in and independently, with no assistance from a woman, lifted the toilet seat all by myself before I pissed. Then in a celebration of women's equality and lack of dependence on us men, I left the toilet seat up knowing full well that the next person in line was a woman. I wanted her to be able to demonstrate her situational awareness, mechanical aptitude, and understanding that gravity will greatly assist in lowering the toilet seat, while we men have to actually fight against gravity to lift it. Hmm...maybe the different toilet seat tasks men and women face aren't equal after all. Honestly, I half expected the woman who went in after me to hunt me down in the store and bitch me out for leaving the toilet seat up.

**Dr.E** · 30th-July-2012

I am not being picky. The way people talk affects the way they think, which affects the way they act.

And it affects their pride. Which is why they have so much of it Hench one of the reasons why they have that "entitlement" attitude! This is the number one reason why I will NEVER compliment a woman! Even if she is the most beautiful, feminine, skilled at something, or whatever.

Therefore, I have dropped the word "lady" from my vocabulary. I don't even say "cleaning lady" anymore, especially since a "lady" would not violate a man's privacy and enter the men's room while men were using it. I say "cleaning woman" or "female janitor.

To be honest. I HATE being called a gentlemen. Even from another man. I find it to be a degrading because, to me, its as if I'm promoting chivalry (which I REALLY HATE) just for being called that name. To me, I feel that it gives them an understanding that "here's a sucker that I can use to be my slave". and why is it OK when females get to call guys honey, sugar, baby and whatever foolish nicknames they can think of. but when a guy says the same thing to a woman she gives you a dirty look? or she says "I'm not your baby" or "my names not honey it's {name here} or what her reaction would be? I get angry when a woman calls me honey but not as mad as when they call me a gentlemen.