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Use of the word ma'am
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Anonymous
| How do you feel when someone addresses you as "ma'am"? There are times when it makes me feel really old, like they had the choice to call me either miss (implication young) or ma'am (implication old), then after accessing the situation decided "Nope, definitely a ma'am." BTW, I'm 35. So tell me, does being called ma’am bother you or do you see it as a sign of respect? And why is it that men don't have distinction - it's simply mister, with no apparent regard for age. |
Anonymous
| These days, if anyone younger than me (I'm also 35) called me that, I might drop dead from shock that they had been taught manners. I wouldn't care about the fact that it means I am older. |
Anonymous
| Both. It makes me feel old (I'm 43) and I take it as a sign of respect. |
Anonymous
| I'm 36, and I have felt old being addressed that way, mostly when it is from someone who I can tell is younger. But I also feel it is a sign of respect. |
Anonymous
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I'm also 36 but have been ma'amed for some time because my child has been with me in public places so much of the time for the last 10 years. Now that it happens consistently when I'm sans child, I'm not thrilled.
I also think the word itself sounds stupidly folksy and much preferred the "madam" I used to get when I lived in London. |
Anonymous
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My DDs say ma'am to me and sir to their dad. We taught them to do it because it's just what came naturally to us. If someone else calls me ma'am (like the babysitter) I usually tell her she doesn't have to do that, but it doesn't hurt my feelings. My thought the first time she ma'amed me was, wow, your parents taught you to be repectful.
I am 32, fwiw, and still use ma'am and sir for anyone I used it for when growing up--my parents, gparents, and the parents and gparents of my friends--or when I'm back in the south, for anyone who is considered an "elder" and not a peer. |
Anonymous
Same. |
Anonymous
| Depending on where a person was raised, it is a sign of respect and/or mandatory! My DH is from Georgia and if a child doesn't say 'yes ma'am' or 'yes sir' that kiddo would be in trouble. It's second nature. |
Anonymous
| I'm 30 and I hate it. I noticed no one ever used it until I had kids. |
Anonymous
| Ha ha ha. There used to be a car commercial where a man in his 20s? is driving in his car and a bunch of girls wave to him. He rolls down his window and they ask him for directions, addressing him as sir. He was thinking he was a stud and they were interested in him. |
Anonymous
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I'm 42 male and I still use it in certain situations, such as when a lady accidentally drops something on the street and I have to yell to get her attention. In that situation, "hey you in the red sweater!" seems rude. "Excuse me, ma'am, did you drop this?" is polite.
"Yes ma'am's" are only for women much older than me, and even then only for those who would appreciate hearing it. You can tell who they are. |
Anonymous
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I'm 31, don't think I ever got it before I had kids, and yeah, it makes me feel a little old, but what else are people going to say -- I feel even less like a "miss." Let's own being grown-ups!
Either is better than "kiddo," which a contractor called me this morning... |
Anonymous
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Ma'am=Mrs, Miz=Miss.
If you are 35 and married, you are ma'am. |
Anonymous
I have similar feelings. BTW, I was initially startled by the British "Madam" form of address because I thought salespeople were being snide, but then I realized they used it for everyone. |
Anonymous
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I got ma'am-ed for the first time in college (by a boy who was in high school). It made me feel old then, although it was clearly meant to be respectful, and I still think that. And as a child, I'd have called someone my age (37) ma'am, so I''m not offended.
I almost find it more offensive when someone calls me "miss", but that's generally older men, so I give them a pass as trying to be extra polite and not calling attention to my age. 
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