Do you teach your DC to say 'woman' or 'lady'?

[MrsBumblebee]

Ok, not really a problem for me yet as DS is only just 1. However, I've noticed recently that most young children seem to call women 'ladies' but men 'men' (as opposed to 'gentlemen') - e.g. 'Look, there's a man crossing the road', 'Look, there's a lady crossing the road'. This has started to bug me; not only are the words not equivalent, but the feminist in me bridles at the implication that women are somehow deserving of greater respect and politeness than men.

Thought I would do a straw poll to see what others do.

Both.

but surely 'man' is just the abbreviation of gentleman, not a less respectful term. But I'm not a pedant so am not really the best person to answer this question!

woman

I really should have thought more about this, but DS (2yrs) does say 'lady' and man. The words are not equivalent, I agree.

I sometimes use 'gentleman' but that tends to be in a slightly passive aggressive way if I'm out with DS and a man pushes past us I say something like 'Oh, DS I think this gentleman is in a hurry, stand back'. Childish I admit...

ladies - mostly as I never personally use the term woman for no reason in particular.

I get my dcs to say lady. They obviously know the word woman, but I think it can sound a bit disrespectful. Not a big deal really, just my preference. Like silly rather than stupid.

Andrea.

lady

I say things like - let the lady past - when we're out or watch out for other people.

laydee

Lady

And as mine are small, this includes anyone over the age of 12.

A regional thing here is the honorific term 'master' when referring to a man with your children eg "Mind out for that master, get out of his way please!"

I always thought I would teach ds to say "woman" (agreeing with your feminist reasoning!) but I have found myself saying "lady" as that does seem to be what's expected. I want him to use the acceptable word and sound polite, I guess.

lady

Yes, that's the trouble. I wanted to teach my daughter to say 'woman' but it does sound off, so we've gone for the more polite 'lady'.

Crikey, I'd never really given it any thought other than lady is a bit easier to say than woman and I'm from the lazy school of living. From now on, I'll be refering to lady and erm man because it's easier

Although we say it, lady does sound ridiculously Victorian schoolmarm-ish when you think about it...

lady and man in my book

I think "let the lady past" just sounds more polite than "let the woman past"

"woman" often seems to be used in a derogatory way, don't you think? as in "you silly woman" or "women drivers"

We say lady and quite often gentleman too (after dd started copying dp and saying 'the auld fella up the road'. He became the 'nice elderly gentleman'. Funny how dp managed to find otu his name really quickly after that )

LOL at your DD/DP, Tarantula!

Well, I'm interested to hear that it's not only me who's thought about this. From what you've all said, I guess maybe we'll go for lady as well - I know what you mean about 'woman' sounding off, and I'd be mortified if DS ever got told off for being rude because I'd taught him the 'wrong' word. But maybe we'll try to use 'gentleman' as well for the sake of equality...

I thought woman was a rude word when I was growing up because of this! Still say ladies for ds (2.5) though...

oh def WOMAN...and i love it when he says it....love it!

i dont like lady much...dont mind it but would prefer to be talked about as 'that woman'

woman/women always

womens rights
wonder woman
all woman
womanly powers