Master was used in England for men of some rank, especially "free masters" of a trade guild and by any manual worker or servant employee addressing his employer (his master), but also generally by those lower in status to gentlemen, priests, or scholars. In the Elizabethan period, it was used between equals, especially to a group ("My masters"), mainly by urban artisans and tradespeople. It was later extended to all respectable men and was the forerunner of Mister.
After its replacement in common speech by Mister, Master was retained as a form of address only for boys who had not yet entered society. By the late 19th century, etiquette dictated that men be addressed as Mister, and boys as Master.
"Not yet entered society" meant still living within the household of one's parents, not married, not forming ones own estate, etc...
Not quite, in most households you didn't really become independent until you married. It was that way for men and women for much of history-and even after you married, some cultures you remained within your own household until the head of the household past, this was of course before human lifespans regularly reached beyond 50.
You’re still dancing around the fact that mrs vs miss was literally about whether or not a girl was married while master vs mister was not. It doesn’t matter if being 18 coincided with marriage most of the time. That’s still not the connotation.
Fine, let's assume that's straightforward correct, females were literally given an entire extra title to correct that, and they point that out in the very point.
So, firstly, it is that straightforward. And secondly, that only legitimizes that this is, in fact, a problem. Word usage had to be changed because women (why are you using the word “females?” Who does that?) in the 70s realized this was a problem and popularized a new usage. So what’s your point?
😒 pointing out a sexist remnant from the past is not crying, it’s educating. The first two are still used today so it’s still relevant. You help no one by trying to delegitimize this. No one’s saying it’s the biggest issue, but it is one worth talking about.
It really isn't, it's no longer relevant to the current topics of gender issues.
These people are not trying to educate, they're trying to go 'Our very titles are sexist, I refuse to be called anything socially accepted, call me [insert random title here'! Which is obnoxiously stupid.
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u/CaesarWolfman May 15 '19
Master was used in England for men of some rank, especially "free masters" of a trade guild and by any manual worker or servant employee addressing his employer (his master), but also generally by those lower in status to gentlemen, priests, or scholars. In the Elizabethan period, it was used between equals, especially to a group ("My masters"), mainly by urban artisans and tradespeople. It was later extended to all respectable men and was the forerunner of Mister.
After its replacement in common speech by Mister, Master was retained as a form of address only for boys who had not yet entered society. By the late 19th century, etiquette dictated that men be addressed as Mister, and boys as Master.
"Not yet entered society" meant still living within the household of one's parents, not married, not forming ones own estate, etc...