'Feminine' language in the workplace

[susannahmoodie]

This morning I was listening to a news article on the radio about care home staff who have been criticised for calling patients 'love' etc because it was patronising. Today I was in a meeting with my HT at school and he criticised staff for not addressing students 'professionally' and bemoaning he fact that he had heard staff call students 'darling', ''sweetie', 'honey' etc.

It struck me that most of the members of staff doing this will be female, and is his an example of typically female characteristics being viewed as weak and unprofessional.....same as showing emotions in the workplace perhaps?

I'm just thinking aloud but I was wondering. If someone could help me articulate my feelings on this.....