Missing the point of the Mrs. and Misses in Today's Society
Last night as I was catching up on my Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (hello favorite new show), I was especially amused by the "How Is This Still a Thing?" segment on Columbus Day. To be completely honest, I was still reeling from the genius that was his Miss America segment.
We are now almost a decade and a half into the 21st Century, and yet something as outright moronic and degrading as Miss America is still around (that being said, tip of the hat to the girl who solved the ISIS crisis).
As I have been contemplating the "How Is This Still a Thing?" aspect of beauty pageants, I have also noticed something less obvious but quite as demeaning: the MISS in Miss America.
I understand that the Miss is the politically correct version of neutralizing the difference between the married Mrs. and single Miss that was instated in the late 70s as Feminism started to become the tainted word that it is. BUT STILL does it not set up the idea that these young women are young, beautiful and still single and awaiting your hand in marriage. Does this not just feed into the whole vision of what the Miss America foundation is trying to spread? And if they are trying to be neutral, should it not be Ms. America then?
As I delved a little deeper into the requirements John Oliver outlined, not only did I find that never having been pregnant an actual requirement mentioned in this segment (cause, I mean, like, who wants to see a real woman's body with stretch marks and a C-section scar), but did you know that Miss America can't actually be married or engaged? She has to be Miss America and never transition over to MRS. America (a spinoff pageant I'm sure exists) during her time in coronation.
Okay, I'm sure at this point you're already thinking: "Okay, what's the big deal? Women are walking around in swimsuits, performing ventriloquism, and are being expected to answer questions that the United Nations hasn't been able to answer and yet you're hung up on the fact they're single?!"
Well see that's the thing! My whole point is not why the Miss America pageant "is still a thing." My question is why the terms MISS and MRS are still a thing!
Today at work as I was signing someone up, I had to ask them whether their title was Miss or Mrs. I actually had to ask them this because it is an identifier that is a part of the registration process. It is a part of many things you register for. Almost any form you fill out these days has, whether on paper or electronic, the requirement to put in your title.
In the year 2014 why is this even an option? Why do I even have to put in Ms. as if I'm checking off the box of "I'd rather not say"? Why is there a Mr. but no longer a Master (I kid you not that used to be what you called a young lad)?
In this day and age I think it's insulting to have to still define a woman by her marital status. While I appreciate that I no longer have to put my gender on a job application (my name gives it away enough I guess), and realize there are so many bigger and badder fish to fry on the feminist fry pan, I seriously question how this title is still a thing that we consider okay to ask.
From this day on, I vow to say screw you big box of titles and will now request to be called Lady Rebecca if anyones asks. Especially since I'm British and can probably get away with this in America.
What are your thoughts? I'm a being the hyper feminist my ex-boyfriend always complained about or do I actually have a point? Do you feel like the title of Miss and Mrs. is something you don't want to have around anymore? Or do you think it helps to truly distinguish yourself in society?
With that said, cher Cynicidals, I put down my gavel and leave you with the amazing Aziz Ansari's quip on why we should all be feminists:
We are now almost a decade and a half into the 21st Century, and yet something as outright moronic and degrading as Miss America is still around (that being said, tip of the hat to the girl who solved the ISIS crisis).
As I have been contemplating the "How Is This Still a Thing?" aspect of beauty pageants, I have also noticed something less obvious but quite as demeaning: the MISS in Miss America.
I understand that the Miss is the politically correct version of neutralizing the difference between the married Mrs. and single Miss that was instated in the late 70s as Feminism started to become the tainted word that it is. BUT STILL does it not set up the idea that these young women are young, beautiful and still single and awaiting your hand in marriage. Does this not just feed into the whole vision of what the Miss America foundation is trying to spread? And if they are trying to be neutral, should it not be Ms. America then?
As I delved a little deeper into the requirements John Oliver outlined, not only did I find that never having been pregnant an actual requirement mentioned in this segment (cause, I mean, like, who wants to see a real woman's body with stretch marks and a C-section scar), but did you know that Miss America can't actually be married or engaged? She has to be Miss America and never transition over to MRS. America (a spinoff pageant I'm sure exists) during her time in coronation.
Okay, I'm sure at this point you're already thinking: "Okay, what's the big deal? Women are walking around in swimsuits, performing ventriloquism, and are being expected to answer questions that the United Nations hasn't been able to answer and yet you're hung up on the fact they're single?!"
Well see that's the thing! My whole point is not why the Miss America pageant "is still a thing." My question is why the terms MISS and MRS are still a thing!
Today at work as I was signing someone up, I had to ask them whether their title was Miss or Mrs. I actually had to ask them this because it is an identifier that is a part of the registration process. It is a part of many things you register for. Almost any form you fill out these days has, whether on paper or electronic, the requirement to put in your title.
In the year 2014 why is this even an option? Why do I even have to put in Ms. as if I'm checking off the box of "I'd rather not say"? Why is there a Mr. but no longer a Master (I kid you not that used to be what you called a young lad)?
In this day and age I think it's insulting to have to still define a woman by her marital status. While I appreciate that I no longer have to put my gender on a job application (my name gives it away enough I guess), and realize there are so many bigger and badder fish to fry on the feminist fry pan, I seriously question how this title is still a thing that we consider okay to ask.
From this day on, I vow to say screw you big box of titles and will now request to be called Lady Rebecca if anyones asks. Especially since I'm British and can probably get away with this in America.
What are your thoughts? I'm a being the hyper feminist my ex-boyfriend always complained about or do I actually have a point? Do you feel like the title of Miss and Mrs. is something you don't want to have around anymore? Or do you think it helps to truly distinguish yourself in society?
With that said, cher Cynicidals, I put down my gavel and leave you with the amazing Aziz Ansari's quip on why we should all be feminists:
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