(no subject)

[rm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/us/07aging.html

Fascinating article on the harm of addressing seniors with elder-speak.

But what really struck me? The toll of words like "sweetie" and "dear" that the article notes are also used for children in a way that can also be disrespectful and isolating. What the article doesn't note: is that these words are used in the same way on women of all ages, and yes, it makes us angry and uncooperative too.

Comments

[demotu.livejournal.com]

In New York? Yeah, no one would use it to a man in my comparatively tiny city, either. And in (small town), a man wouldn't use it with another man - but pretty much every woman I see my boyfriend interact with calls him by some such endearment (and he them, especially when he's interacting with them in a professional, law-enforcement capacity, which is pretty interesting.)

[rm.livejournal.com]

Also, just in New England/Mid Atlantic in general. In the South sure. But here it's a pretty strictly gendered thing regardless of the population size, I think.