It is wrong for men to address female work collegues as "love" or "sweetheart" or to wolf whislte at a lady, and it is wrong for women to call male work collegues "doll" or "darl" or "love" or "honey' or any other name along those lines.
I call people (not just men) all these and more, and if a man were to refer to me the same way it would not bother me.
What I would like to know is;
1. What is your opinion on this matter? and
2 Have you ever been told you should be offended if someone did/said something to you, and then when someone has done/said whatever it was you were supposed to be offended at, you just forgot to be offended because you were not really offended to begin with?
I would be very interested your answers.
2007-02-10 17:01:17 · 16 answers · asked by Spikey and Scruffy's Mummy 5 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Legally speaking, calling an opposite sex co worker by pet names like "love", "sweetheart", "doll", "darling" ect is in a dangerous grey area.
If they don't have a problem with it, it's perfectly OK.
But, if they DO have a problem with it, it could be considered sexual harassment, depending on the context.
The cornerstone of sexual harassment is if the conduct is unwanted by the person on the recieving end of it - and if a reasonable woman would feel that the conduct would be sexual harassment.
So, keep on calling your male co workers by pet names, BUT if one of the guys objects, make a point of not calling him by a pet name.
2007-02-10 17:07:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think it would depend on the manner in which it was said. Some people just use these terms casually with hardly any notice that they are even calling people these things. I probably wouldn't care unless the situation made me care. If a co-worker wolf whistled at me though, I would probably be offended at not being treated with the same respect that the males get. I try not to patronize people, and I would hope they would do the same for me.
2007-02-10 17:09:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
1. I remember early on in my work life, a gentleman colleague told me I shouldn't call my female co-workers 'ladies.' I thought that was pretty ridiculous.
For men to address female colleagues with words associated with romance or sexuality is to POTENTIALLY put the woman in a one down position or to treat her as an object. This makes the workplace unsafe or hostile for her. Managers have an obligation, established through many sexual harassment lawsuits, to make sure no reasonable woman feels uncomfortable in the workplace.
I had a boss who frequently showed me pictures of women in mink coats. He was 74. He would tell me that these women got these minks for being nice to him. When he moved his office into his apt, I quit. If I hadn't had the freedom to quit, working for him would have been awful, instead of just sad.
In addition, I'm sure many wives would be none too happy to imagine you calling their husbands love or doll. Why do you want to sexualize/romanticize the workplace with these terms?
2. I'm not offended by much. I was raised by New Yorkers.
2007-02-10 17:16:37 · answer #3 · answered by cassandra 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I found it condescending, offensive, unprofessional and rude for people to call me sweetheart, honey etc, in the business world, or by people I don't know very well. That is the way you talk to a small child, small animal, simple minded person, or someone you know in a personal way. Such a husband, parent, or best friend etc.. The only way i don't find it irritating when someone I don't well uses it, is when it is an elderly person. That is only time i find it endearing or cute. In public, I would preferd to be addressed as mam, miss or by Mrs Brock by, people in the bussness world.
2007-02-10 17:11:35 · answer #4 · answered by cindy8413 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
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2016-11-03 03:12:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can see where these experts are coming from. I think that it is not appropriate if it is being used in a condescending or sexual way. If it is an expression of mutual affection, however, I find it perfectly acceptable.
2007-02-10 17:12:42 · answer #6 · answered by Susie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it depends on who the person is... there are some people that would offend me by calling me something more personal like that, but it's usually because i don't especially like them. i even get cashiers calling me honey or love...or whatever. it doesn't offend me.
2007-02-10 17:47:12 · answer #7 · answered by Queenie Peavey 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it doesnt bother me if someone calls me that. But we had a case at work where a lady(I use the term loosely) sued a guy for calling her dear....Go figure...
2007-02-10 17:05:46 · answer #8 · answered by CoronaKing 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't find that kind of stuff offensive at all...I think it's endearing, but I guess some people are offended by anything.
2007-02-10 17:04:24 · answer #9 · answered by tami_ky 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it never worried me when I worked if a guy called me love etc & a wolf whistle was a complement as well haha
it must have been the lesbian feminists who had it stopped
2007-02-10 17:15:29 · answer #10 · answered by ausblue 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋