AIBU to detest that my CEO calls me 'young girl', 'little one' and other derogatory terms?

[vikihayden101]

I'm 25 years old and have been in work for 9 years. I am experienced in my field and consider myself to be professional and good at my job. However, I started a new job in January this year and my female CEO has taken up the habit of referring to me as 'little one', 'young girl', 'teen pop', 'young one' and other derogatory pet names.

I accept that perhaps she doesn't realise that I find this uncomfortable and she probably thinks she is being friendly but to me I am an adult in the workplace and if I were a man this would not be happening. So my question is, am I being unreasonable to detest that my CEO calls me 'young girl', 'little one' and other derogatory terms?

[YonicScrewdriver]

Of course YANBU.

You've posted in employment issues, do you want help approaching this?

[vikihayden101]

Yes desperately! I don't know how to approach it at all. We are a very small company and the CEO does the majority of the HR, which leaves me in an awkward position. How do I let her know that it makes me uncomfortable?

Thanks for replying.

[YonicScrewdriver]

Could you just politely challenge it? "Oh, I'm not a young girl/teenager, I'm a woman?"

[spillyobeans]

Maybe mention to her when she next says something just politley say im sorry but id prefer you didnt call me that. If she genuinely meant no harm she will probably be appologetic and stop and you can try have a laugh about it so its not as awkward. If she reacts badly then you know shes being discriminate and then i would suggest keeping a document/note of all incidents and any evidence e.g emails etc. And you could take it from there and get info from citizens advice

[prepperpig]

My CEO used to refer to me as a "young mum" all the time. It used to drive me mad (particularly since I was 40 at the time!)

[stevemLS1]

I had an office manager who used to call me "young man" and even "boy".

This was a very formal office where people generally referred to each other as Mr/Mrs/Miss (it was mid-80's)

I very politely and in private asked her not to do so - it made not a blind bit of difference.

So, a few months later, I told her that if she persisted I would have to start calling her "old woman".

That did the trick.

[spillyobeans]

Stevem brilliant