Dear Aviva,
I am one of those people who object to the term 'lady' and here is
why.
Lady is a term that has a particular set of expected behaviours.
Those behaviours are the traditional feminine and submissive ones. Some
women like behaving like ladies as it gains approval and assistance. Other
women don't like behaving in those ways, or at least not all the time. In
other words we don't want those expectations of behaviour put upon us by
others.
Thus, I cringe when I hear women who are the clients of midwifery services
referred to as 'ladies' instead of 'women'. The concept of woman has not
such behavioural expectations associated with it.
Best wishes,
Kathleen
--------------------------------------------------------------
Kathleen Fahy
Professor of Midwifery
Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery
Faculty of Health
The University of Newcastle
University Drive,
Callaghan, 2308
Kathleen Fahy
Professor of Midwifery
Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery
Faculty of Health
The University of Newcastle
University Drive,
Callaghan, 2308
Ph 02 49215966
Fax 02 49216981
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 12/01/02 11:04am >>>
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 12/01/02 11:04am >>>
Hello, All,
I refer to myself as a human being, a woman, as a lady, but most
importantly, as me.
One of my definitions of Woman: Woe to any man who attempts to harness
me!
A very dear male friend of mine defines a lady as a woman who has the
patience to sit while the gentleman goes around to make her life just that
little bit easier for a moment, by opening the car door and hold it open for
her...to show his appreciation of her. After all, if she's wearing a dress,
&/or high heels, OR is pregnant, mothering, menopausing, PMT-ing, or
otherwise feeling in any way vulnerable, small acts like opening heavy doors
etc., can make her life easier. Personally, I like that. It was only when I was
pregnant with Leslie and found opening very heavy doors to public buildings, and
standing in trams became an issue for me, that I realised being a lady DID NOT
mean sitting with one's knees together, but meant allowing others to make my
life pleasanter.
Enough of my prattling...I have some wonderful news! I'll put it in a
separate email, so for those who have had no interest in the lady bit will still
read it!
Love to all the women, ladies, gents etc. on the list,
Aviva
----- Original Message -----
From: Denise
Hynd
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2002 8:38 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Bumper stickers for ladies!
Dear Pinky
I enjoyed and then thought
about what the title we use for ourselves
means etymologically, overtly and co-vertly.
Do I refer to myself as a Woman, lady or
girl??
Which do I prefer and why.
Possibly neither!
Denise
Denise
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