I address women as “ma’am” or “miss” rather habitually out of courtesy. I also have sex with them. These are not mutually exclusive.
FWIW, I don’t think social mores have changed QUITE as much as some posters here might think. It’s not at all unlikely that Cap had sex with one or more ladies during WWII - especially given the high levels of testosterone that his physique would suggest - and it’s not unlikely that he’s had sex with women since the thaw. Steve Rogers is a gentleman; that does not automatically make him a virgin.
It’s interesting how deleted scenes make little details like this make more sense. I always wondered why they seemed to linger on that one woman’s face in that scene, and then show her again on the news.
(Another similar one I noticed is in Avatar. In the theatrical release, there’s a scene where Jake-as-Na’vi is flying his banshee, and right after the cut he says “I was a stone-cold aerial hunter,” which seems to come from nowhere. Except when you watch the extended version, the scene immediately preceding that shows him actually hunting from the air.)
One more thought, since I’m on a roll: I think the trailers for the Winter Soldier might contradict this. Widow tells him that some girl in some other department would say yes if she asked him, and he replies that that’s why he doesn’t. It’s not ironclad in any way, but suggests that he’s reluctant to even start any romantic relationships.
Wiki has a nice little piece on Ashley, with some indications of the future:
In 2012, she appeared in The Avengers (also directed by Whedon) as a waitress who is saved by Captain America. Though this was a minor role, the Blu-ray edition of The Avengers contains some deleted scenes that expand her role in the movie, and further her interactions with Captain America.[1] Her “small-but-pivotal role” may lead to her returning in future movies as a friend or love interest for Captain America.[2] The characters name ‘Beth’ may be a reference to the supporting character Golden Girl from the Captain America comics.
Side note: Did you know that she played Chrissy Seaver in the last two seasons of Growing Pains?
Significantly, she sees Steve’s face when the Chitauri dude pulls back the Captain America mask (cowl?).
Viewed with the earlier coffee shop scene in context, the cut to her close-up reaction shot definitely implies recognition. “Hey! Captain America is that guy who I waited on at the coffee shop!”
The whole problem goes back to Comics Code Authority days, in which any hint of sex was absolutely verboten; yet, at the same time, no one wanted to suggest that any of the red-blooded American he-men comic heroes weren’t… normal with regards to women. The Silver Age Superman/Superboy in particular danced around this issue. The default was usually to give the hero a girlfriend with whom we never see anything untoward happen.
