Introduction
March 1, 2013 Posted by Admin
Madame vs Mademoiselle
Madame and mademoiselle are French terms used to show respect for ladies. Madame is used for married women, while mademoiselle is used for unmarried girls and ladies, and now also for divorced ladies. Recently, there has been a debate in France about the use of mademoiselle in official documents, as women’s groups argued that it is sexist. As a result, the French Premier has decided to eliminate mademoiselle and only use madame in official documents.
Differences between Madame and Mademoiselle
In France, madame and mademoiselle are used to address women, while men are addressed as monsieur. Women were previously forced to choose either madame (married) or mademoiselle (unmarried) on official documents, which required them to reveal their marital status. Men, on the other hand, only had the option to choose monsieur. This practice of revealing marital status bothered women, as they questioned the importance of disclosing this information. Official documents in France used to have three options: monsieur, madame, and mademoiselle. Men would only select monsieur, while women had to indicate whether they were married or unmarried.
The term mademoiselle implies youth and immaturity, and it is used for unmarried women. French women have expressed their objections to mademoiselle, stating that it is sexist. They believe that only madame should be used for them, as is the case with men who are addressed as monsieur. Women who are mature but unmarried find it problematic and vulgar to be labeled mademoiselle. Divorced and unmarried women also feel that it is disgusting and shameful to be called mademoiselle after a certain age.
The use of madame or mademoiselle depends on a woman’s age and marital status. Young looking married women may be called mademoiselle by shopkeepers and strangers. Similarly, older unmarried women may be called mademoiselle, which many find awful.
However, the French Prime Minister has decided to eliminate mademoiselle from official documents following pressure from women’s groups. From now on, French women will not have to choose between madame and mademoiselle, as all women will be referred to as madame, just like men are referred to as monsieur.
Summary
Madame and mademoiselle are terms used to show respect for women in French. Madame is used for married women, while mademoiselle is used for unmarried women. Previously, official documents in France required women to reveal their marital status by choosing either madame or mademoiselle. However, this practice has been criticized as sexist, and the French government has decided to eliminate mademoiselle from official documents. From now on, women in France will be addressed as madame, just like men are addressed as monsieur.
Highlights
1. Madame is used as a term of respect for married women, while mademoiselle is a term of address for unmarried girls in France.
2. Official documents in France have traditionally asked women to reveal their marital status by selecting either madame or mademoiselle.
3. Women’s groups have advocated for the removal of mademoiselle from official documents, and the government has agreed to use only madame for women going forward.
