How the 'ladies and gentlemen' generation has turned to be of 'women and men'

In the recent year I have realized that, I have been growing old without my consent. Walking down in the streets, I hear young people with new slang words that I cannot understand at all. If that has been happening to you, then we are sailing in the same boat.

I recently came across a picture that, unfortunately, hit the social media in 2012. It was a picture of a woman in a 50′s dress and a man in a 50′s suit. It said “I often wonder if more girls were willing to be ladies, more guys would feel challenged to be gentlemen.”

This made me wonder, what’s the deal? Why aren’t more girls willing to be ladies and guys willing to be gentlemen? Alas, when I was growing up, I always wanted to be a gentleman. I bet most of the ladies my age would appreciate being called ladies.

So many questions ran into my mind. What do these terms really mean to this generation? We live in a society where social rules and social roles have changed dramatically. I mean seriously, look back to your grandparents, depending on how old they are the terms lady and gentleman actually meant something.

So, I decided to do a small research of the word by asking my two siblings. So I called them to my place, and after a chit-chat I asked them for their opinion. First, I asked my younger sister. First of all, to her the word, lady it is a little bit outdated and old fashioned. She says: “Whenever I hear the term “Lady” I always picture ‘little old lady’. You know someone who is at least thirty to forty years older than I am.”

This time she was frank and she told me this, “My boyfriend is charmingly old fashioned and when we first dated he called me a lady.  Sadly I was a little insulted. ‘No, thank you, I am a woman not a lady’, I thought to myself.”

Her words kept me thinking, Ok so what does it really mean? Let’s explore the word “Lady”. According to Webster’s Online Dictionary there are several definitions. It means a polite name for any woman, a woman of refinement; refined or gentle manners or a woman of social distinction or position.

Basically it seems to be a woman who carries herself well. That’s not so bad, is it? I mean heaven-forbid my sister’s boyfriend would think that she is refined, and she didn’t think of herself that way?

Now turning to my young brother, who had just finished his high school, he had rather a similar way of thinking when it comes to the term “Gentleman”.

He claims that it’s an outdated term. He pictures of an old man, definitely thirty to forty years older than him. One who dresses in suits, ties, and official shoes. I wouldn’t blame him, keeping in mind his age. Actually, the last time I saw him in a suit and a tie, was two years ago during my aunt’s wedding and from the look in his face, he was just counting hours to go and change to a much dot-com-dress cord.

But according going back to the dictionary, the definitions are similar to that of a lady. A gentleman is a man of refinement, a man well born, cultured man who behaves with courtesy and thoughtfulness and an upper-class-man, etc. Not bad either.

But here’s where it gets interesting. My sister claims that when she thinks of the two terms, she feel like it is more accepted to call a man a gentleman.

I tend to agree with her. In fact, many singles women, who are looking for a relationship, hope to find a gentleman. Someone who is thoughtful and caring. It is definitely more noteworthy to be a gentleman than a lady, which seems to be more disparaging. It’s like it means a woman who is rigid, boring, and no fun.

These are just my views and what I gathered from my two lovely youngsters. I could be completely wrong, but what I gathered is: “Next time I talk to your lady, woman, girls I’ll make sure you use the right term! I don’t know which one, but the right term.”