Why do some females use the prefix "Ms"?

Question

Is it just divorcees, lesbians and bitter singletons? Why does it matter if someone knows your marital status?

Answer 1

Would you use a different appelation to signify your marital status? Misterette for single men, and Mister for married?

Answer 2

I am divorced. It was a VERY messy divorce. I kept that last name for a couple of reasons. I have five children. I was married long enough that I have had that name longer than my birth name. AND, believe it or not, I have a friend right here in my community who has my exact maiden name.

I am definitely not a Miss. I do get miffed when someone addresses me as Mrs. though. Creating another headache, the new Mrs. has the same initials as I do, so I can't sign my first two initials and last name anymore.

The abbreviation for Misses drives me batty. Look at it. Mrs. looks more like a possessive form of Mr. - minus the apostrophe. I do not belong to Mr. Mylastname, so I won't use that title.

Answer 3

I use Ms. I am in a long term relationship, getting married in November, so I'm obviously not bitter or lesbian. I prefer Ms. because Miss is just too "young" and "immature" sounding for my taste. I'm not a Mrs. because I'm not married. After I am married, I intend on sticking with Ms. because it's none of anyone's business whether I'm married or not.

Answer 4

I feel it shows where you are in life, I was a Mrs. for 30 years now I'm a Ms. I do get just a little ticked off when I have to correct people that I'm a Ms. now but they didn't know they just assume I'm married. For me the Mrs. comes with a lot of pain.

Answer 5

I think it falls onto a male dominated society where a guy can be called Mr. with or without being married and a woman had to have her martial status branded on her like a cow. I don't really care if you know I'm married or not but Mr. Mrs. and Ms. falls back to that time in society where a woman couldn't go anywhere without a man.

Answer 6

You answered your own question with this question

quote "Why does it matter if someone knows your marital status?"

It doesn't, which is why some women prefer to use Ms instead of Miss or Mrs

Since men don't reveal their marital status with their prefix, why should women be required to ?

Personally, I use the title Mrs, but I don't trash talk women who choose to use Ms.

Answer 7

I prefer Ms. bc men are addressed as Mr. or mister. and I am engaged so therefore I am not a bitter singleton, a lesbian or a divorcee. Try not to generalize everyone thanks!

Answer 8

In my experience, "Ms." was used for a woman who was single and available to date. "Miss" was used for women who were not willing to date (bitter old maids). It's a personal preference by the woman. When I was about 13 or 14, my relatives would address mail to me with the title "Ms."

Answer 9

It is more appropriate, when you are just meeting someone, or you do not know their marital status, to call them ms. this can mean that they are married, or it can mean that they are single. I use it when i am unsure of someones relationship, like when they are in the process of a messy divorce.

Answer 10

Some do it because they are unmarried and do not want to be referred to as "Miss." Some think of it as the equivalent of "Mr." which does not specify between married & unmarried men. I don't particularly care for 'Ms.' myself. I am married & the proper way (etiquette-wise) to address me is Mrs. Husband's Name. Since I prefer to use my own name, I feel it is more etiquettely correct to use Ms. Myfirstname Husband'slastname.