I call out a lot of people when they refer to women as "Ladies." It drives me nuts. Most people, especially men, have no idea how their language perpetuates inequities and stereotypes. In your words, "lady" denotes an expected behavior and is meant to diminish or control (often subconsciously) a woman. For some reason, I think men have trouble saying the word "woman" - that it has some kind of sexual connotation. I just don't get it.
Our Secretary of Defense just called women of the military - "gals" on TV while wearing Top Gun style aviator sunglasses and trying to defend his sharing of comments (sensitive data) through unsecure means and responding to a photo posted of him running behind a very strong looking military "dude".
He said “He’s just a beast, and I hope he’s internet famous beyond his dreams, because that’s the kind of image I want of what the American military looks like — not me barely surviving behind him trying to survive 10th Group PT. But I’m glad that’s a visual that people have of our military. We want fit-to-fight guys and gals ready to go.”
I call out a lot of people when they refer to women as "Ladies." It drives me nuts. Most people, especially men, have no idea how their language perpetuates inequities and stereotypes. In your words, "lady" denotes an expected behavior and is meant to diminish or control (often subconsciously) a woman. For some reason, I think men have trouble saying the word "woman" - that it has some kind of sexual connotation. I just don't get it.
Our Secretary of Defense just called women of the military - "gals" on TV while wearing Top Gun style aviator sunglasses and trying to defend his sharing of comments (sensitive data) through unsecure means and responding to a photo posted of him running behind a very strong looking military "dude".
He said “He’s just a beast, and I hope he’s internet famous beyond his dreams, because that’s the kind of image I want of what the American military looks like — not me barely surviving behind him trying to survive 10th Group PT. But I’m glad that’s a visual that people have of our military. We want fit-to-fight guys and gals ready to go.”
I screamed at my TV.
This is me talking back!
Bravo Letty. We can not be quiet now.