Adieu, mademoiselle

mademoiselle (noun): an unmarried French girl or woman - used as a title equivalent to Miss for an unmarried woman not of English-speaking nationality     Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
 

It’s for the best. I realize that. Progress is unstoppable. Still, I reacted to the news with a twinge of regret.

Reuters reported recently that “official French documents will no longer force women to reveal their marital status by requiring them to choose the title Mademoiselle or Madame. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has ordered all regional and local governments to remove the title "Mademoiselle" - used for unmarried women and implying a youthful immaturity - from official documents. From now on, people filling out government forms will get just two choices: Madame or Monsieur.”

The article points out that women’s groups pushed for the change because they view “Mademoiselle” as a sexist term that forces single women to disclose whether they are married on government forms. The male equivalent - “Monsieur” - applies to all men regardless of marital status, the argument goes, so “Mademoiselle” represents a double standard.

“Mademoiselle also carries connotations of youth and immaturity, making it potentially problematic for unmarried women after a certain age, and confers a lesser status,” the article pointed out.

Absolutely correct. Quite true. An undeniably valid argument.

Yet as someone who grew up in a bilingual environment where French and English were spoken in equal measure, I recall with a certain fondness that “Mademoiselle” carried a courteous, respectful connotation back in the day. No more. We’re all either “Monsieur” or “Madame” now.

That's as it should be, and yet . . . . Ah well. I guess an occasional attack of misplaced wistfulness is permissible at my age.