Do we need titles Miss/Ms/Mrs/Mr etc?

[NuffSaidSam]

Do we still need these? Does anyone know what the purpose is?

I've just been asked by the TV license people and it's made me wonder if it's necessary anymore (the title, not the TV license).

I think I'd be happy to go without.

I think it is fashionable nowadays to run down and diminish the importance of anything that is traditional and family-focused rather than individualistic in this me, me, me society. I value tried and tested traditions over ever-changing fads, feelings and preferences.

Then they could ask at the beginning how you wish to be called? Quite a few call centres do this now.

Ok, so it's not really about the sound then?

The thing with the traditions point is we actually have quite a rich buffet of them in English, when it comes to names. Mrs meaning a married or sometimes divorced woman is just one of them. So it's a value judgement about which one prefers.

That's why miss and Mrs should be scrapped entirely and replaced with the generic equivalent of Ms.

Then just use Ms. It's the female equivalent of Mr.

Nope, you don’t get to police the preferences of other women. Given we have biological men being applauded for calling themselves she/her, it is utterly preposterous to suggest that a married woman should be banned from using Mrs. Why do happily married, committed women bother you so much? You do you, and I’ll do MRS. Deal with it.

As I already said. ‘Ms’ is one I hear people constantly mispronouncing, so I would use Miss or Mrs, never Ms. However, I don’t go round dictating that no woman should refer to herself as ‘Ms’, as I don’t agree with policing women’s choices. It’s often the ‘Ms’ group who’d ban ‘Mrs’ in a heartbeat though. Very dictatorial to women. Ain’t ever gonna happen though!

I’ve always used Ms since my early teens, and that includes when I’ve been single, married, divorced and widowed (full bingo card, yay!). I’ve never changed my name. Oddly I’ve noticed that I was always called Ms as requested until my late 40s, and now lots of companies have changed me to a Mrs. Why I don’t know but I’m not sure why they ask if they’re just going to override it and decide for me.

No we don't need them at all but I'd be content with Mr for all males, which we effectively have now, and Ms for all females.

Ideally we'd all be just first name last name.

I dont think formality is needed. Lots of private school kids call their teacher by their names.

It will happen. It's happened in the US so it'll happen here eventually.

When presented with a drop down list of titles I always choose the most bananas one I can.

I have a season ticket in the name of The Very Reverend BohoGarden and on the vet's system I'm Lady BohoGarden.

By "traditional" and "family - focused" you mean misogynistic.

The rampant "individualism" we see in society is a result of capitalism. Plenty of people wish to live in a more socialist and less individualistic society - and also wish to be treated equally to men.

You can be as delighted as you like with marriage, being married, having a lovely husband, and using Mrs - but why does the lovely husband not change his title to indicate the same?
Tradition? History? Yes, based on ownership, not partnership.

Haha given society’s crazy self-identifying culture, you’d still get people identifying as Mrs, Ms, Miss, Mx, whatever they like.

Nope, it’s misogynistic trying to control women’s choices. Married women can use whichever title they like.

I’d be genuinely embarrassed to copy the US. I dislike their gun culture, lack of maternity rights, the list is endless- not a place I’d be proud to copy or view as an example.

It's great that you're happy, but why are you saying "Proud"? Surely being married is what most people do? It's not an achievement. It's the situation that the vast majority of us are in.

I've been married for twenty five years, three now grown-up DC, all doing very well. I'd never call myself Mrs because it's a nonsense and I'm not proud of being married for so long because that would only be an accomplishment if DH was an arsehole and he isn't! He's a thoroughly decent man and very easy to live with, and so being married to him isn't an achievement.

I'm wondering if you're of an older generation because of your religious phrasing. Perhaps embrace what you see as 'modern' and consider the implications, rather than being immediately afraid of new thinking. Admittedly, I'm also concerned that you're thanking Farage!

Again why? Why do you need to know what genitals someone has? It’s really odd.

Most of the time I think it irrelevant but I do find it useful on occasions. I particularly like to take the wind out of the sails of spam callers by immediately telling them that my name is 'Mrs Tooold...' This is easier for me as I can spot a scammer a mile off as they will call me by my first name which I have never used. Also I used to have to use Mrs .... at work.

It is an achievement in this day and age actually to remain happily married, and value it as a lifelong commitment, not a short-term thing while it suits one or both for now.

Unfortunately we live in a society where individual pursuits and achievements are valued above all else. I value my husband and children above everything else.

Your assumption is mistaken- I am 39. I’ve been through the education system all the way to Masters level at Cambridge University, a place that certainly taught me to think for myself. I am prouder of the husband I chose very carefully and the marriage we have both worked very intentionally to create.

Nowadays we are very quick to applaud solo travellers, those who complete a marathon, those who stay single, first women in space, etc. It is still absolutely brilliant for any woman or man to say they are proud of their marriage or being a mother or father.

Why do you "have to use Mrs" at work?

I prefer to use Mrs than to have to give my Pronouns

Is your husband equally proud of your marriage?

I hate the Mrs/Miss/ms nonsense and I can’t imagine a society where men would tolerate being Master until they get married then becoming Mr.

I would also politely disagree in that both you and your DH should feel pride and achievement in your 25 year happy marriage, congratulations to you both. I’ll be delighted to reach that milestone. Why shouldn’t you both feel proud of all of the years of time, companionship, support and commitment you’ve both given each other? It’s wonderful.