flaps@utcs.uucp (Alan J Rosenthal) (01/23/86)
The word 'lady' confers status on women only in a very condescending way.
When it is used opposite 'gentleman' then it is merely affected, but when it
is used opposite 'man' (for example, most toilets in Toronto, anyway, say
'men' and 'ladies'), it is condescending. Just like the idea of putting a
woman 'on a pedestal'. Or when you talk 'baby-talk' to children. It indicates
that you think of them as inferiors, otherwise you could address them
properly, as you would like to be addressed.
Alan J Rosenthal
{linus|decvax}!utzoo!utcs!flaps, {ihnp4|allegra}!cbosgd!utcs!flaps