Saturday, October 08, 2011

Don't call her Mademoiselle...


Is it a sign that we are more under the influence of the US, or that we have reached a certain level of maturity when it comes to women's rights, it's hard to tell. The fact is, that French female activists are now demanding that the term Mademoiselle be removed from official papers and forms. They claim that there is no male equivalent (we had Damoiseau in the middle ages, though ;-) and that there is no reason to make the distinction between single and married women. They have a point, don't they? To illustrate this news, I took this photo in the windows of Le BHV especially made for Steiner.

16 comments:

  1. Very interesting about the Middle Aged Damoiseau. ;)

    Suggestions for the French equivalent of Ms., anyone?!

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  2. And, more importantly, can one actually see through what look like fabric glasses which she's sporting after her long liberated day of shopping? Or are they for getting one's beauty sleep? So many pressing questions, so little time.... : )

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  3. I read about this campaign a few weeks ago - at which point I discovered that I was always referred to as Madame as a term of respect being somewhat older than my French friends!

    Here in the UK there is a campaign to remove gender from passports so that trans gender people aren't discriminated against if they look female but passport says male!

    And no longer mother and father's names but Parent 1 and Parent 2!

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  4. Humm, I agree that if you have specific titles for addressing women there should be the same for men.

    I love this photo. She looks like she "died and went to heaven"! LOL

    Kris

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  5. What a photo -- it belongs to your mannequin series which must be very large by now.

    The window reminds me of the saying, "Let's shop until we drop."

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  6. I think I posed this question a few days ago, n'est-ce pas? As a simple 'Cain, the term of address always confuses me. Ah, ma belle, tu es belle either way. What would you like me to call you, other than beautiful?

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  7. Akin to Atget rather than Cartier-Bresson. Still and active, it is alive, enjoy your photo's

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  8. Good idea. Have one title, Madame, sorted!
    In the UK as well as Miss and Mrs we now have Ms. all of which carry different connotations depending on who is using it and in the context in which it is being used.
    I am so glad I'm a simple Mr.

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  9. About time!!! I was always wondering why that stupid tradition was still going on, in France.

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  10. First of all, the photo made me laugh. As for putting Mademoiselle to rest—pourquoi pas? But will everyone be Madame or will you come up with a whole new term (like Ms. in English)?

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  11. I'm confused (and not for the first time!).

    I thought the use of Mademoiselle and Madame was related to the age of the woman in question and not maritable status. E.g. a woman over (say) 30 would be referred to as Madame no matter whether she was actually married or not.

    Is this wrong? Someone enlighten me please :)

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  12. I've been picketing for women's rights (in the U.S.) since I was an adolescent but for some reason, this bums me out. At the ripe single age of 38, I love being called Mademoiselle instead of Madame!

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  13. another interesting and informative "Eric" post. merci! my only lament with the passing of mademoiselle is that I LOVE the way the word sounds.

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  14. Middle Aged Damoiseau looks a dreamy and interesting. thumbs up for you about that post.

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  15. I like your way of writing. You have shared awesome topic. I am going to share it with my friends also.

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  16. After providing all sort of information, as you did, i was able to speak with a tech and even then he didn't seem to know more than what was already available on Google or the help forum. I still prefer their printers over other vendors but I guess we get what we pay for.

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