Why we decided to treat women the word "girl"

• Why we decided to treat women the word "girl"

It is known that before the October 1917 revolution, the young ladies of the nobility and the merchant families were called young ladies, and young peasant women and prostolyudinok called the girls. After the establishment of Soviet power these appeals were abolished as bourgeois and outdated. Now Russia has almost all the women, except the old ladies, called the girls. How did such a tradition?

The champions of universal equality

In the Russian Empire appeal to any person dependent on his social status. No one called the working master and peasant - Madam. "A man" and "woman" - in the words that now seem rude that match most of the inhabitants of our country.

Freethinkers, who fought for social equality, oppose such a lack of respect for people. Soon after the revolution, 11 (24 - New Style), in November 1917, the young Soviet government adopted a decree on the destruction of estates and civil ranks. From that moment the young ladies were no longer any ladies or maids.

In the everyday life of the Russian people has gradually entered such appeals to the ladies, as a "friend" and "citizen". But they are not entrenched in everyday speech because of overly formal values. Then, as an option, it has become widely used the word "girl".

Nobles

According to another version, this appeal were the first to use the Russian nobles. If unmarried daughters of peasants working in the fields, were named the girls, then to designate the serfs and servants maids took another word. They were called sennymi girls.

Both appeals are descended from Proto-Slavic noun "virgin" refers to the fair sex, which reached puberty but have not yet entered into marriage.

Since the peasants of the Russian Empire occupied a lower social level, the word "girl" had a slightly negative connotation, as embodied illiterate and uncouth (according aristocrats) individuals. Therefore, the nobles did not use in his speech, the word, preferring a more polite form of "girl".

Then it became a working waitresses in restaurants, inns, employees and other employees of young women. There was a tradition.

Feminists

Absolute link between an appeal to the fair sex, and her marital status never liked feminists. Thus, unmarried German woman called Fraulein and respectable mother of a family - Frau. In France, there are similar treatment - Mademoiselle and Madame, in Britain - Miss and Mrs. While polite treatment to an adult man is independent of his virginity. Although in our country there is no such established forms used when referring to the ladies, became commonly used words for gender-sensitive men: "woman" and "girl". They also emphasize the marital status of the fair sex.

Many feminists (and not only they) believe the word "woman" insulting and rude. Say, it emphasizes decent age ladies, alluding to her marital status. However, some representatives of the fair sex, who already have grandchildren, resent the word "girl" because it does not correspond to reality, and sounds too familiar in relation to mature women.

Therefore, the Russian men need to think very carefully before you turn to a particular lady, so as not to offend her delicate feelings.