# Is the term "master bedroom" offensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001 "2021-04-14T20:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/41 "2021-04-15T01:15:53Z")
Unfortunately, HGTV. Now it’s “primary” or “main”. You can tell it’s a rerun if they still say “master”. 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/42 "2021-04-15T01:32:48Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > ETA: For what it is worth, I saw Owner’s Suite used on a listing or two, which makes more sense but probably could raise the same misplaced objections. I was watching “House Hunters International” last night and a couple was looking in Edinburgh. The agent referred to the “owner’s suite” at each house. I had never heard that before and thought it must be a local thing. Usually it is just “main” or “primary”. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/43 "2021-04-15T01:33:22Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > the TREB just announced today that henceforth “master bedroom” is banned from the language They can’t possibly have done any such thing. They may have announced that they and their members are going to use some other term. Why do you think you should control what terms they themselves want to use? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/44 "2021-04-15T01:38:50Z")
I think the idea is to give a performative clucking of the tongue and then promptly move on to the next manufactured outrage without having to think about it too much. ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/45 "2021-04-15T02:45:32Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > What about en-suites attached to the guest bedrooms? They’re all en-suites. The main bathroom is the one that’s not attached to any of the bedrooms, but that is entered from a common area. The en-suite attached to the master bedroom is not the “master bathroom”; it’s the en-suite attached to the master bedroom. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/46 "2021-04-15T03:23:56Z")
We’re house hunting now, and there are a higher percentage of listings that use something other than “master”. I’d say it’s in the 20-30% range. Boston area. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/47 "2021-04-15T03:32:54Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’d be very surprised if a single person was at all put off by “family room” or how close something is to the schools. Similarly for some of the other things you mentioned. I think it was the ambulance-chasing lawyers and other professional offenderati who were largely driving it, especially once the laws made it possible for anybody to have standing to file discrimination lawsuits for things like that. It became a cottage industry. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/48 "2021-04-15T03:46:41Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Words and phrases like “family room” became a faux pas because that might encourage married family people to apply more than single people, and we can’t discriminate on family status. “Walking distance to schools” likewise steered people with children toward the property more than older “empty nesters”. “Walking distance to [anywhere]” was considered to be favorable to able-bodied people at the expense of the disabled. “Close to [churches, synagogues, mosques, etc.]” was right out. That’s bizarre. A house is a product and a real estate agent marketing it towards families, single people, students, or whatever other group they think would be most interested is no different from marketing a sedan as a family car. Are they not supposed to refer to an “outdoor entertaining area” because introverts would feel excluded? ---
**Author:** ![EyePaintFaces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyepaintfaces/32/7538_2.png) [@EyePaintFaces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EyePaintFaces)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/49 "2021-04-15T04:06:20Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > My wife won’t let me have my mistress in the master bedroom Lol hell yeah ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/50 "2021-04-15T04:11:42Z")
I have a Master’s Degree, presumably because I “mastered” the subject in which the degree was awarded. If I am supposed to feel terrible and racist now, I’m going to need a little convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/51 "2021-04-15T04:21:29Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I have a Master’s Degree, presumably because I “mastered” the subject in which the degree was awarded. You should run with that. “No no no, you’re misunderstanding, I call it that because I’ve mastered the bedroom”. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/52 "2021-04-15T04:37:53Z")
Is there any evidence that people are offended by “master bedroom”? It sure seems touchy if they are. I won’t mind seeing it go, though; I’ve always internally rolled my eyes at the notion of the “master” bedroom, like I was some pretentious king or something. My concern with some of these name changes is does it become a test? If someone uses master bedroom will they be called out as racist? The master/slave terminology in computers feels like it can be jettisoned. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/53 "2021-04-15T04:42:39Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > If I am supposed to feel terrible and racist now > [@Deeg](#): > > My concern with some of these name changes is does it become a test? If someone uses master bedroom will they be called out as racist? I don’t think any of these language reform debates are intended to make any random individual “feel terrible and racist”. It’s just a question of considering whether it would be an improvement to use an alternative term instead. I haven’t heard of any such debates over the term “master’s degree”. My guess would be that if it does end up getting some significant pushback, the academic community will just go back to using the original Latin version of the title, i.e., “Magister” with the appropriate genitive such as “Artium”, “Scientiae”, etc. Of course, Latin “Magister” is cognate with English “master”, but has sufficiently distinct connotations in English that I think it would be considered acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/54 "2021-04-15T04:45:57Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Is there any evidence that people are offended by “master bedroom”? Well, I specifically mentioned at least one person just a few posts up. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > my sister-in-law mentioned that her and my brother were looking at houses and as she kept hearing ‘master bedroom’ over and over and started to get a bit upset about it. If it makes a difference, she is a minority (Asian) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/55 "2021-04-15T04:50:34Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > I hope these people don’t take up auto repair, is all I can say. If they don’t like “master bedroom” they’re _really_ not going to like the names for some of the stuff inside a car. And clearly they’re not very savvy using PowerPoint or they’d be offended by the master slides too. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/56 "2021-04-15T04:50:56Z")
Thanks, I missed that. Did she mention why it made her upset? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/57 "2021-04-15T04:59:48Z")
A writer for CNN thinks that fonts can be racist. [Karate, Wonton, Chow Fun: The end of ‘chop suey’ fonts - CNN Style](https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/chop-suey-fonts-hyphenated/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_source=twCNN&utm_content=2021-04-07T17%3A00%3A45&utm_medium=social) Which is odd, because most Chinese American restaurants are owned by Asian Americans. So what if they want to use it on their own buildings, signage, menus, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/58 "2021-04-15T05:01:42Z")
It was only discussed very briefly, but I think it was just the idea of a room being designated [presumably] for the person that owned the slaves. But as I said, I can’t say for sure if she was directly offended or upset that someone used an offensive term. Like if someone pointed to a bar and told me it was a ‘fag bar’. It wouldn’t directly offend me, but it would still make me upset that they used the term. She’s pretty smart, and even if it made her cringe, I’m assuming she understood the person showing the house wasn’t aware of any alternate/derogatory meaning ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/59 "2021-04-15T05:04:27Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It is not offensive to me and it is one of the dumbest complaints I’ve seen. I concur. How about then in Guilds & trades- Apprentice, journeyman, master? Cant say "Master Carpenter? “Really good ya betcha Hammerguy” ? The Masons wont care for this either. “Worshipful Swell Dude”. No more Masters degrees? “Edumacated person”. Damn, do I have to give my MS back? 👨‍🎓 👩‍🎓 No more Grandmasters in Chess? “Young Master Smith” will now be “Kiddo”? And I am a **DungeonMaster** and I will give up that title when they pry my dice from my cold dead hands. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001/60 "2021-04-15T05:05:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > How about then in Guilds & trades- Apprentice, journeyman, master? Cant say "Master Carpenter? “Really good ya betcha Hammerguy” ? > > The Masons wont care for this either. “Worshipful Swell Dude”. > > No more Masters degrees? “Edumacated person”. Damn, do I have to give my MS back? 👨‍🎓 👩‍🎓 > > No more Grandmasters in Chess? You don’t understand the difference between mastering a skill and being the master of a house/property and perhaps the people on the property? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-master-bedroom-offensive/940001.md?page=4)