Anyone going to France this summer? If so, you might find this news interesting. It turns out you should maybe think twice before calling a woman “mademoiselle” while you’re over there.
The French Prime Minister has ordered the removal of the word “mademoiselle” from all official government documents. The term is traditionally used for unmarried women and, as it turns out, it connotes a kind of youthful immaturity.
Interesting. I never knew this. I studied French in high school and college, and lived in Paris for a semester, but I didn’t know that "mademoiselle" had any negative connotations. I always just thought it meant a young woman. Good to know. That’s an interesting thing about speaking foreign languages—even when you think you know the meaning of a word, you can’t know the connotation unless you immerse yourself in the culture for a little while.
The official banning of “mademoiselle” from government documents came after a lot of lobbying from women's rights groups in France. They argued that the word was sexist and that on government forms it unnecessarily pried into a woman’s private life (asking if she’s married or not). Good points all.
Lesson of the day: when in doubt, say "madame."
Photo: Paul Beattie via Flickr (CC)
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