# Your opinion of "young lady" in the office **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452 "2014-06-23T16:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/61 "2014-06-26T21:57:11Z")
If he addressed you that way would you say, “I’m not that kind of lady!!!”😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/62 "2014-06-26T23:33:16Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > What I would do. Next time he comes up to you and addresses you as young lady, you can with a smile (the smile is key) respond, “Or [Name].” > > or > > “Young lady sounds so formal. Just call me [Name].” > > Of course it doesn’t actually sound formal - it sounds stupid, but it lets him know you’d rather be called by your name without calling him a jackass. I’d probably do the first one because it’s ever so slightly snide, and I go for snide, but you might want to try the second one. > > Oh, and as for my opinion on the matter, it would be annoying. Strangers call me “young lady” or “miss.” If you know me, why aren’t you calling me by my name again? Too ambiguous, as is **you with the face** ’s proposed solution. There can’t be any room for misinterpretation or she’ll find herself in the same situation later on. She has to be clear and firm or it could just deteriorate into more drama. Also, for the OP, you should document what you said to him and when. If it turns into an EEO or HR complaint, you need to show a pattern of behavior and what you have done about it. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/63 "2014-06-27T01:54:18Z")
Based on the latest, I’m still feeling the “little fella” response. Accompanied with the little shooting fingers back at him. “Sure thing, little fella!” _pew pew_ Yes, I posted this because I made myself laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/64 "2014-06-27T02:23:58Z")
I’m in my later 40’s and I’m still addressed as “young lady.” I like it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/65 "2014-06-27T07:05:01Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I’m in my later 40’s and I’m still addressed as “young lady.” I like it. I’m sure both words are nice to hear. It may not have the same meaning to you if you were never called that as a child. Then again, being called “young man” doesn’t bother me, and I was definitely called that as a kid. I sincerely hope this post is not offensive. It is not my intent. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/66 "2014-06-27T18:04:16Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I’m in my later 40’s and I’m still addressed as “young lady.” I like it. Well, young lady, I’ll see YOU in my office! Oops never mind. A cubicle just wouldn’t do. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/67 "2014-06-27T20:48:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Too ambiguous, as is **you with the face** ’s proposed solution. There can’t be any room for misinterpretation or she’ll find herself in the same situation later on. She has to be clear and firm or it could just deteriorate into more drama. Also, for the OP, you should document what you said to him and when. If it turns into an EEO or HR complaint, you need to show a pattern of behavior and what you have done about it. Or she could truncate it to “Just call me [Name].” I don’t think it’s worth it to bring Godzilla to a knife fight. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/68 "2014-06-27T22:14:34Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Or she could truncate it to “Just call me [Name].” I don’t think it’s worth it to bring Godzilla to a knife fight. Simplest is always best, of course, as long as he takes it to heart. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452/69 "2014-06-27T22:48:22Z")
I’m with the others who would say, “You know, Bob/Mr. Whosie/whatever you call him, I’d prefer to be called \_\_\_” and if pressed say “Young lady sounds like I’m getting called into the principal’s office” or something like that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinion-of-young-lady-in-the-office/691452.md?page=3)