How can such small words become such a loaded question? Freelance journalist Kelly Rose Bradford did an article a few months ago which got me thinking.
The first definition of Miss in the Oxford dictionary is the verb. Fail to hit, reach or come into contact with. Pass by without touching, chance not to hit. Fail to notice. Fail to attend. Fail to see. Avoid, escape. All of the above are definitions of the word Miss. Most of which involve failure. How interesting.
Miss (noun):
Definition one: a title prefixed to the name of an unmarried woman or girl, or to that of a married woman retaining her maiden name for professional purposes.
Definition two: used in the title of the winner in a beauty contest.
Definition three: used as a polite form of address to a young woman or to a waitress or female shop assistant.
Definition four: a girl or young woman, especially one regarded as silly or headstrong.
Mrs (noun): the title used before a surname or full name to address or refer to a married woman without a higher or honorific or professional title. Origin: abbreviation of Mistress.
Ms (noun): a title used before the surname or full name of any woman regardless of her marital status (a neutral alternative to Miss or Mrs)
Most women are unaware that Ms is a neutral option and feel that which ever option they choose will define them. Mrs obviously means you are married. Miss means you are single, and judging by the definitions above, a silly failure. Ms means ambiguous. Why is it so important for a woman’s marital status to be confirmed? Men have one option, Mr. There is the other of Master whilst they are children, but once they hit adulthood they automatically become Mr. Why don’t women get to change when they hit adulthood? Do we not become adults until we get married?
One can’t help but let the feminist inside loose on such subjects.
When you next fill out a form asking you to tick a box, think about what that little box says about you.
Happy being a happy go lucky Miss, good for you, you tick that box.
Happy being a married Mrs, good for you, you tick that box.
Happy being an ambiguous Ms, good for you, you tick that box.
How can one small box define a woman? According to the dictionary, which box defines you?
Mr (noun):
Definition one: a title used before a surname or full name to address or refer to a man without a higher or honorific or professional title.
Definition two: used before the name of an office to address a man who holds it.
Definition three: used before a surname to address or refer to a male surgeon.
Definition four: used in the armed forces to address a senior warrant officer, officer cadet or junior naval officer.
