There are a few reasons for this. First, I happily tote the feminist implications of this title. Second, I don't think it is necessary for the world to label my name according to my marital status. And, finally, Miss sounds young to me and Mrs. just reminds me of my grandmother.
But that's just me. I like that there are options and I don't judge women who choose a different precursor for their own names than I choose for mine. I do think that what we choose says something about how we see ourselves and how we want others to perceive us upon introduction. In my son's classroom, each of the three teachers goes by a different title, and I find that a fascinating little statement about who they are individually.
When I read today that new research shows that the word "Ms." dates back to 1901 (it was previously dated back to 1949) in an effort to fill a "void in the English language," it made me wonder how many women claim this title that was created to give women options, freedom, and individuation. How many women feel comfortable with the connotations that are (feminist!) and aren't (married?) imbued in this one little word?
Ms., Miss, or Mrs.? Which box do you check?
[via Jezebel]
