It’s different for women. “Miss” implies youthfulness but can also be used as a snide way of implying nobody wants to marry her, whereas “ma’am” implies deference on the part of the speaker but can also be used cruelly to imply she’s old and matronly. There’s basically no situation for a woman in which something neutral or positive can’t also be used as a way of making a dig at her for not being as good as a theoretical ideal woman.
I dunno, I’ve been called sir since I graduated high school basically. It wasn’t a crazy “I’m getting old” moment at all.
It’s different for women. “Miss” implies youthfulness but can also be used as a snide way of implying nobody wants to marry her, whereas “ma’am” implies deference on the part of the speaker but can also be used cruelly to imply she’s old and matronly. There’s basically no situation for a woman in which something neutral or positive can’t also be used as a way of making a dig at her for not being as good as a theoretical ideal woman.
Yes mistress
Ahh, I suppose that’s true. I’ve always throught it was weird that women have miss/ma’am instead of just ma’am, so I forget that miss exists haha.
Yeah I was taught only to call someone “Miss” if she is 100% confirmed single otherwise it’s an insult. So I never use it.
I didn’t know “Ma’am” was an insult for old people.
Yeah I never felt that either but that’s probably because my mom called me miss ma’am a lot growing up.