Please, Don't Call me Ma'am!

 

In last Sunday's New York Times, there was a great article about women's strong—and mostly negative—response to being called "Ma'am." You can check it out at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/weekinreview/29angier.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Ma%27am&st=cse

 I definitely related to the many women who said they recoiled in horror whenever addressed as "Ma'am," mostly because it made them feel old, dowdy, or generally misunderstood. But it made me realize I'm often addressed with monikers that make...