Sally Mack<p>Pet peeve: Sexism and Ageism in a single word</p><p>Because I am an older woman strangers often address me with insincere, saccharine terms of endearment. "Dear" seems to be a favorite. A man riding past me on his bike said, "Hello, dear" when there was no reason for him to speak. A woman I encountered on a nature preserve greeted me with "sweetheart," which she included in every statement she made to me. I'd never seen her before. On a walk another man wished me good morning, "young lady." I am not young and don't claim to be a lady. (Also, please don't refer to older people as "xxx years young," we know we're old).</p><p>Okay, people wishing me well (sort of) but I am not a "sweet, little old lady," a cultural term repeated over and over. If you have something to say to me, you're welcome to say it, thank you. But don't patronize me.</p><p><a href="https://sfba.social/tags/ageism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ageism</span></a> <a href="https://sfba.social/tags/sexism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sexism</span></a> <a href="https://sfba.social/tags/PetPeeve" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PetPeeve</span></a> <a href="https://sfba.social/tags/patronization" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>patronization</span></a> <a href="https://sfba.social/tags/SweetLittleOldLady" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SweetLittleOldLady</span></a> <a href="https://sfba.social/tags/Gender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Gender</span></a></p>