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Thursday, September 18, 2003
Single like me
What's in a salutation anyway? What starts off like a essay on feminism and labels, ends up looking like a singles ad.
Meet Amber Pawlik:
When we used to use Miss and Mrs., it emphasized the fact that a woman was a woman. When single women were called “Miss,” it highlighted their femininity. They were feminine, single, and available. When married women were called “Mrs.,” it highlighted their mature womanhood. It denoted a very respectable and strong matronly figure.
If you addressed women by “Miss,” men would be alerted that they could pursue the single maiden. If you called women “Mrs.,” it would alert men that she was taken, and to respect the institution of marriage.
“Ms.” changes that. Indeed, is “Ms.” not the most cold, sexless word you’ve ever heard in your life? Kind of like “comrade”?
Feminists argue that the only way for women to gain independence is to be treated like men. Hence, they wanted to be called “Ms.,” the way men are called “Mr.” The terms Miss and Mrs. define a woman based on her relationship to a man, and we can’t have that!
But what does one’s marital status have to do with female independence? What does it matter if people are aware of the fact that a woman is single or married? Is this, really, holding a woman back from actualizing on her full potential as a human being?
Feminists’ goal becomes increasingly clear. They do not want to create strong women, but to de-sexualize women, i.e. create women uninterested in and unattractive to men. I have argued before that the sole purpose of feminism was to confuse male and female (hetero)sexuality. This is further proof. Using Ms. versus Miss and Mrs. has nothing to do with a woman “retaining her identity.” It does, however, have to do with de-sexualizing women and destroying the family structure.
[snip]
Here I thought that by gaining independence it would allow them to be treated like adult humans, which is not necessarily the same as being treated like a man. Anyway...
Leftists don’t really like being reminded that Orwell’s critiques were against communism. They usually like to claim the book to be in their camp, and try to show how Orwell was talking about conservative movements. But it is a fact that Orwell was critiquing the communists. Insights like the one he provided regarding being called “Mrs.” further aides in that proof.
Mrs. and Miss are not oppressive titles. As Orwell pointed out, when Winston was at his neighbor’s house, he was supposed to refrain from calling her “Mrs.,” but he did anyway. Not because he thought less of her, but because the woman herself commanded his respect. Feminists serve to take this kind of respect away from women.
Ayn Rand obviously used Miss and Mrs. in her writings. In The Fountainhead, Dominique is referred to as “Miss Francon” throughout. And, in the very end, when someone asks her who she is, she proudly says:
“Mrs. Howard Roark.”
I will tell you now, casually, you can do the politically incorrect thing and call me Miss. I am definitely single, available, and looking, and certainly have no problem with people having access to that knowledge. And when I am married — given I will be proud to be married and of my husband — there will be no hyphenated names for me (which has to be the most impractical and stupid practice ever). In my personal life, I will embrace the role demanded of me fully. Socially, you can call me: “Mrs. (his full name).”
Here's the future Mrs.(his full name) (She's second from the right. Next to the ugly guy in the black jacket)
For any of you guys looking for a woman who's into Ayn Rand, objectivism, "hanging out at cool bars", and criticizing forebearers who won you the freedoms that you now enjoy, you can find Amber here.
No freaks, please.
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