In 1910, did "Miss" mean young and unmarried?

bishop2knight · 05-01-06, 08:09 PM

Not sure if times have changed in this regard, but if a female was called "Miss Smith" in 1910, what would you know about her? I'm assuming that meant unmarried, but did the "Miss" make any reference to the girl's age?

FinkPish · 05-01-06, 08:10 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss

Fincher Fan · 05-02-06, 05:51 AM

Just stop stalking her and ask her out already!

Draven · 05-02-06, 06:42 AM

I think that wiki article confused me even further...

Josh-da-man · 05-02-06, 08:14 AM

I can't get the wikipedia article to download.

I believe that, traditionally, "Miss" is used to denote an unmarried woman who is still using her maiden name.

"Mrs." is used to refer to a woman who is married, and therefore using her husband's name.

So when Miss Sarah Jones marries Bob Smith, she becomes Mrs. Sarah Smith.

"Ms." was recently created by a bunch of hairy-legged feminists because they thought including the marriage status of a woman in her name's title was sexist because no such distinction was made for men.

mndtrp · 05-02-06, 08:32 AM

I'm not sure. Once I build my time machine, I'll go back and find out for you.

Mrs. Danger · 05-02-06, 08:32 AM

"Miss" implies youth, but does not specify. It simply means, "never married".

Mrs. could be married or widowed.

In 1910, divorced women weren't spoken of, so there was no specific term. Now, they can be either Miss or Mrs.

What I always thought was creepy was how some women would give up their whole name when they married, becoming "Mrs. John Smith" for example.

Thor Simpson · 05-02-06, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishop2knight

Not sure if times have changed in this regard, but if a female was called "Miss Smith" in 1910, what would you know about her?

Beauty pageants used to be determined by the father's occupation. Her dad was a blacksmith. Not a bad dowry. I'd wait for the evening gown and interview sections before deciding.

Vibiana · 05-02-06, 09:53 AM

"Miss" means unmarried. The fact that it also tends to connote youth is the result of assumption that young ladies are unmarried and old ones are married (or widowed).

I use the term "Miss" to describe myself. "Ms." sounds unpleasant and I have no problem at all with being seen as never-married.

wendersfan · 05-02-06, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Danger

What I always thought was creepy was how some women would give up their whole name when they married, becoming "Mrs. John Smith" for example.

I don't know if they still do it, but not that long ago the Wimbledon tennis tournament did the same thing with the names of women players. It was weird seeing 'Chris Evert' being referred to as 'Mrs John Lloyd'. I suppose some traditions are quaint, but some are just backward and sexist.

Vibiana · 05-02-06, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Danger

What I always thought was creepy was how some women would give up their whole name when they married, becoming "Mrs. John Smith" for example.

"Mrs." is only properly used with a husband's name. For example, "Mrs. Karen Smith" is incorrect (although it is widely used).

My mother was Mrs. Robert William Snoogledorfer (and no, that's not my dad's real name) from the day she married until the day she died 58 years later. In fact, she used to call herself that when she was making a pissed-off call to a store or the electric company: "THIS is Mrs. Robert William Snoogledorfer and I am OUTRAGED, blah blah blah ..." It got better results than "This is Janice Snoogledorfer and I am OUTRAGED blah blah blah ..."

I don't have a problem with marrying and being Mrs. Male Name, although I never wanted to marry. It's really just a convenience anyway, so people know who you're married to. There's plenty of opportunity to call yourself plain Karen Smith, or whatever.

kvrdave · 05-02-06, 10:15 AM

I think all those terms in 1910 were just a polite way of saying "whore."

Vibiana · 05-02-06, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvrdave

I think all those terms in 1910 were just a polite way of saying "whore."

STOP THAT! I spit my tea all over myself.

Groucho · 05-02-06, 10:22 AM

In 1910 terms:

"Miss Smith" = Unmarried female under the age of 20.
"Spinster Smith" = Unmarried female over the age of 20.

For the one second that an unmarried female was exactly 20, she would be known as "Ms. Smith".

kvrdave · 05-02-06, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vibiana

STOP THAT! I spit my tea all over myself.

Sorry, Miss.

littlefuzzy · 05-02-06, 11:27 AM

Miss Vibiana Snoogledorfer???

I'm sorry...

Vibiana · 05-02-06, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlefuzzy

Miss Vibiana Snoogledorfer???

I'm sorry...

Let's carry the hypothetical example to its bizarrest of conclusions:

Miss Vibiana Justine Hedwig (confirmation name) Snoogledorfer, pleased to meet you.

*curtsy*

05-01-06, 08:09 PM	#1
bishop2knight DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Denver Posts: 7,182	In 1910, did "Miss" mean young and unmarried? Not sure if times have changed in this regard, but if a female was called "Miss Smith" in 1910, what would you know about her? I'm assuming that meant unmarried, but did the "Miss" make any reference to the girl's age?

05-02-06, 05:51 AM	#3
Fincher Fan DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rampaging across DVDTalk. Posts: 4,046	Just stop stalking her and ask her out already! __________________ *"You couldn't molest the audience more than to promise Legends of the Fall* and Driving Miss Daisy then to unleash this on them. They'd just been gang-raped."** - Director David Fincher on the test screenings of Seven.

05-02-06, 06:42 AM	#4
Draven DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rosemount, MN Posts: 15,193	I think that wiki article confused me even further... __________________ XBL GamerTag: Draven Sinclair PSN: DravenSinclair Game Center: Draven-X

05-02-06, 08:14 AM	#5
Josh-da-man DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Bible Belt Posts: 16,736	I can't get the wikipedia article to download. I believe that, traditionally, "Miss" is used to denote an unmarried woman who is still using her maiden name. "Mrs." is used to refer to a woman who is married, and therefore using her husband's name. So when Miss Sarah Jones marries Bob Smith, she becomes Mrs. Sarah Smith. "Ms." was recently created by a bunch of hairy-legged feminists because they thought including the marriage status of a woman in her name's title was sexist because no such distinction was made for men. __________________ "Here's to Boston cops, they did what so many men never have been able to do: they found the little man in the boat." -- Bill Maher

05-02-06, 09:53 AM	#9
Vibiana DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 10,949	"Miss" means unmarried. The fact that it also tends to connote youth is the result of assumption that young ladies are unmarried and old ones are married (or widowed). I use the term "Miss" to describe myself. "Ms." sounds unpleasant and I have no problem at all with being seen as never-married. __________________ Vibiana hooks up with chicks, she's more of a winner than most of the internet. -- mndtrp "If everyone you know is doing it, the only thing to do is rush into a marriage. It'll turn out great so don't worry about it." -- Jules Winfield

05-01-06, 08:10 PM	#2
FinkPish DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,657	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss

05-02-06, 08:32 AM	#6
mndtrp DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2004 Location: a mile high, give or take a few feet Posts: 10,799	I'm not sure. Once I build my time machine, I'll go back and find out for you.

05-02-06, 08:32 AM	#7
Mrs. Danger Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 15,192	"Miss" implies youth, but does not specify. It simply means, "never married". Mrs. could be married or widowed. In 1910, divorced women weren't spoken of, so there was no specific term. Now, they can be either Miss or Mrs. What I always thought was creepy was how some women would give up their whole name when they married, becoming "Mrs. John Smith" for example.

05-02-06, 10:15 AM	#12
kvrdave DVD Talk God Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 79,118	I think all those terms in 1910 were just a polite way of saying "whore." __________________ Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

05-02-06, 10:22 AM	#14
Groucho DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 62,089	In 1910 terms: "Miss Smith" = Unmarried female under the age of 20. "Spinster Smith" = Unmarried female over the age of 20. For the one second that an unmarried female was exactly 20, she would be known as "Ms. Smith". __________________ Xbox Live: Runner Groucho PSN: RunnerGroucho "The Borg is a species" -- Tracer Bullet (Citation)

05-02-06, 11:27 AM	#16
littlefuzzy DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: In my secret underground lair, plotting to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!! Bwuaaahahahaha!! Posts: 4,590	Miss Vibiana Snoogledorfer??? I'm sorry... __________________ littlefuzzy's HUGE...... tracts of land.... -- My Anime My manga (check the Browsing... box to the left.) I just want to tell you both good luck, we're all counting on you.