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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAOC fires back at Manchin after he refers to her as 'young lady'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y) on Sunday fired back at Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) after the centrist senator referred to her as "young lady" while responding to criticism from the congresswoman.
"In Washington, I usually know my questions of power are getting somewhere when the powerful stop referring to me as 'Congresswoman' and start referring to me as 'young lady' instead," she tweeted.
"Imagine if every time someone referred to someone as 'young lady' they were ask responded to by being addressed with their age and gender?" she continued. "They'd be pretty upset if one responded with 'the old man,' right? Why this kind of weird, patronizing behavior is so accepted is beyond me!"
Link to tweet
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ocasio-cortez-fires-back-at-manchin-after-he-refers-to-her-as-young-lady/ar-AAOolAt
Deuxcents
(16,190 posts)Great comeback, Congresswoman
malaise
(268,930 posts)Keep it real - call out the stupid patronizing old men
Response to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)
malaise This message was self-deleted by its author.
hlthe2b
(102,225 posts)I applaud her response.
Diamond_Dog
(31,979 posts)Being referred to as Young Lady to someone in her position is a put-down. I am glad she called it out. Shame on you, Joe M.
irisblue
(32,968 posts)azureblue
(2,146 posts)an old cranky white man, oh you know he would be mightily offended.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)as in "would the Gentleman from Pennsylvania yield?"
Sanity Claws
(21,846 posts)He said Young lady. This is the type of crap that a high school principal uses to address a female high school student.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)wnylib
(21,432 posts)a teenage daughter when they are displeased with her.
Fortinbras Armstrong
(4,473 posts)I'd guess that her age was about six. She and her mother were standing behind me in a line at the grocery store checkout, and she said that she hated to be waiting in line. I turned to her and said, "Young lady, you will be amazed at how much of your life will be spent waiting in line." Her mother just laughed, and said, "That's true."
"Young lady" is an appropriate term of address for a six-year-old, not for a Congresswoman.
niyad
(113,259 posts)that joe was being a sexist prick. Why pretend otherwise?
Fla Dem
(23,650 posts)She is his equal
A HERETIC I AM
(24,365 posts)She is intellectually MILES ahead of him.
Manchin isn't fit to challenge Ms. Ocasio-Cortez on ANY level.
HE went to college on a scholarship based on athletic ability and graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration, a degree suiting him to be the Coal Broker he became.
SHE went to college based on intellectual ability and graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both international relations and economics, those two subjects perfectly suiting her for public office.
She's not his equal. He's a fucking piker compared to AOC.
malaise
(268,930 posts)malaise
(268,930 posts)NH Ethylene
(30,809 posts)Aimed at putting a woman 'in her place.'
Other men might not notice it as readily though.
meadowlander
(4,394 posts)Every woman who has ever set foot in a workplace knows exactly what Manchin is doing here.
Ford_Prefect
(7,887 posts)that the party claiming to be so formally invested in respect for traditions has nothing but contempt for the qualities they represent.
Caliman73
(11,730 posts)In return, women in Congress are referred to as Gentlewoman or Congresswoman. Never, would they be referred to as "Young Lady".
I am not sure what the disconnect is here. The only time the term "Young lady" is acceptable in usage is when it is being used as a descriptor. For example, "My 11 year old daughter is turning into quite the accomplished young lady".
You do not address a woman as "Young Lady" unless you are trying to exert some kind of authority, or admonish them. This is especially true if you are equals within a category. While Senators have more individual power, the House and Senate are co-equal chambers of the Legislative branch of government. It would behoove AOC to refer to Manchin as Senator Manchin and for Manchin to refer to AOC as Representative Ocasio-Cortez.
Walleye
(31,008 posts)Since most women have experienced sexism at one time in another in their lives, we certainly recognize it when we see it. I think somehow this pro-fossil fuel attitude is tied up with the toxic masculinity.
KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)Walleye
(31,008 posts)yardwork
(61,588 posts)His moment
Millisecond
Is. Past.
Rebl2
(13,492 posts)she would refer him old man!
Richard D
(8,752 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,632 posts)Plus trading insults, no matter how obscure, is just playing along and not rising above like what AOC has done. She's taking the most mature and revelatory option.
Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)She has a title. Use it.
marieo1
(1,402 posts)Because men have been getting by with this kind of patronizing lingo for a long time......don't know if the 'older dudes' will or can or want to change!! Some of them are pretty chauvinistic and just plain rude and stupid!!!
NH Ethylene
(30,809 posts)They don't deserve a seat in the House if they can't observe basic 21st-century civility.
ashredux
(2,604 posts)She dont take no shit from nobody .period.
marieo1
(1,402 posts)Because men have been getting by with this kind of patronizing lingo for a long time......don't know if the 'older dudes' will or can or want to change!! Some of them are pretty chauvinistic and just plain rude and stupid!!!
Native
(5,940 posts)I mean, what's up with that?
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)I told him, in a grandmotherly way, it was insulting and belittling to call a full grown woman a "young lady".
Hopefully, he learned something that day.
niyad
(113,259 posts)was early 30's, I was early 20's. Our server (probably mid 20's) came over, and said, "and what can I get you girls started with?" I replied, "To start with, you can stop disrespecting your elders. Do you say "boys" when you are talking to older men?" He sputtered for a few seconds, then tried to say it was only because we both looked so young, which did not get the intended reaction.
To be fair, after that we got excellent, attentive service, and free dessert. He was tipped well.
Delmette2.0
(4,164 posts)Depending on my mood I just might say " I am an old woman and and I have earned respect not flattery. You may address me as madam.
wnylib
(21,432 posts)from clerks and cashiers in stores. Really irritates me when they refer to me as sweetie or honey. I am in my 70s now and it has been going on for over 10 years. It's ageism more than chauvinism since I get it more often from female employees than males. Sometimes I respond by calling them babycakes or sweet cheeks.
On one occasion I asked an employee if she realized how patronizing and insulting it was to be spoken to that way. She just snickered and repeated it so I left my items on the counter and walked out. In retrospect, I should have asked for her supervisor.
When I got the patronizing tones and words in a work setting, it was always from men.
misanthrope
(7,411 posts)In the South, it's common to run into terms of endearment like that. Most of us smile about it because we realize the intent isn't malicious, sarcastic or patronizing but simply a way of being friendly with someone.
wnylib
(21,432 posts)I'm in NY. The tone used with the words is patronizing, not endearing. It is the tone you would use when talking to a three year old.
MetalMama
(83 posts)Not that long ago a youngish doctor, probably in his late 40s, called me young lady. I'm in my 60s. I was not amused. This man also thought it was cute to call me "sweet pea". Ewww. His choice of words wasn't the only problem I encountered on my visits. So, fortunately, I've found another, more respectful, doctor.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)Fuck Manchin. I HATE/LOATHE condescension.
Bettie
(16,089 posts)Oh, if I had a nickel for every time an older man called me "young lady"...and it was always in a condescending way.
Now, when my grandma said "YOUNG LADY COME HERE!" I knew I was in trouble, but that stopped when I hit about ten or so, then she moved to middle naming me.
KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)Honey and sweetheart were standard. A lot of the reason I started my own accounting business instead of working for a company.
Walleye
(31,008 posts)That middle naming is a dead giveaway isnt it! And it works! You know youre in deep shit!
Bettie
(16,089 posts)they used to fear me when I used a middle name!
Now, they are 20, 19, and 13, so not as much fear.
ShazzieB
(16,370 posts)She knew perfectly well I was all bark and no bite!
I nailed some aspects of mothering. The part I sucked at royally was being an authority figure.
Bettie
(16,089 posts)we only had to do true discipline (privileges removal) four times total.
A discussion about what happened, with them explaining to us why that wasn't OK did more than a punishment, and then, we left it at "don't let it happen again". Four times in 20 years, it "happened again", so it seems to work.
But, the middle name along with what they called "Mama's demon voice" worked to stop them in their tracks, even though they were never spanked or physically punished. I think it was the demon voice and the fact that they had to be pretty obnoxious before I really used it!
Now, their biggest fear (according to my oldest) is us being disappointed in their behavior, so I guess it went well.
dflprincess
(28,075 posts)and if she used first, middle, and last I knew I should call a lawyer!
Isn't that why we're given middle names? So we know when our mom is mad at us?
Bettie
(16,089 posts)I mean what other reason could there be?
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Sympthsical
(9,072 posts)And a congresswoman to boot. It is kind of strange.
It's like watching people think Millennials are basically early twenty-somethings. It's like, c'mon man. Millennials are turning 40 now.
Thunderbeast
(3,406 posts)It seems that any time a non-familiar person is referenced in an article (or less often a broadcast story), age is the first descriptor.
Examples:
Mary Doe, 30, was verbally abused in the halls of Congress today.
John Doe, 64, was accused of verbally abusing a Congressman today.
Why is age seen as the most important shorthand to describe someone?
Niagara
(7,595 posts)Time to stop being a misogynist.
Polybius
(15,385 posts)Calling someone old man if far worse and hurtful.
niyad
(113,259 posts)as hurtful? And what kind of economic or social discrimination is reflected in it?
Polybius
(15,385 posts)He's of no relation to her.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)it's literally the same thing. It's ageism either way, which was her point.
Polybius
(15,385 posts)Referring to someone as young is a compliment; Being young is good. Calling someone old is horrible. Remember, you can get old, but you can never get young.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)calling a sitting congresswoman "young lady" is NOT a compliment.
You must not have many women in your life you respect much.
Polybius
(15,385 posts)It may not be a compliment to some, but it's a million times better than old man. While it may be a bit condescending, at least the young part isn't bad. Calling some old is incredibly rude and depressing.
Ageism against the old is also worst than ageism against the youth. While bad, you can get past the ageism by getting older. Can't get past ageism against the old, unless you've found the fountain of youth.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)Truly nonsense.
Polybius
(15,385 posts)Everything that I said was factually correct. I want to make it clear that I never thought "young lady" was a nice thing to say, just not nearly as hurtful as "old man."
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)"Referring to someone as young is a compliment; Being young is good"
Polybius
(15,385 posts)"Young lady" was condescending. I didn't mean to imply that it's acceptable.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)He's an old fossil no matter how one looks at it.
Magoo48
(4,705 posts)a clogged artery in our progressive heart, another old, white, American man who doesnt give a shit about our next generations.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)That is all.
Susan Calvin
(1,646 posts)When someone calls me honey or dear, I respond back with darling or sweetheart, or whatever seems appropriate at the time.
tavernier
(12,377 posts)I call everyone sweetie. Mostly because at my age I can barely remember anybodys name anymore.
ProfessorGAC
(64,995 posts)"Sweetie" is her go to, but "honey" pops in now & then.
Just about everyone.
tavernier
(12,377 posts)Oh sweetie, sorry, I forgot. Im a widow. But it all sounds very familiar, lol.
niyad
(113,259 posts)jcgoldie
(11,631 posts)👊
Pinback
(12,154 posts)I guess I need the tag to show that I would never dream of disrespecting our dear centrist Senator Manchin.
jalan48
(13,859 posts)BlueSky3
(511 posts)and I told him, Im not young and neither are you. Just call me by my name. And then I changed doctors. When a guy in the produce section at the grocery store said, How are you today, sweetheart? I said, Just fine sweety pie, how are you? He hasnt done it again.
Its like this never ends. We just have to deal with these people one at a time.
BradAllison
(1,879 posts)But one more alert and I'm done.
mrsadm
(1,198 posts)Now that I'm 67 it's changed to sweetie.
Trueblue1968
(17,205 posts)Response to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)
ExTex This message was self-deleted by its author.
crickets
(25,962 posts)I'm impressed that she firmly called him out, leaving no doubt as to why his remark was inappropriate.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)Senator Manchin, you old poop!
twodogsbarking
(9,732 posts)I will be talking like Katharine Hepburn all day.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Blue Owl
(50,349 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Day by day, she gains experience.
Day by day, these 'old men' are getting closer to their expiration date.
spanone
(135,823 posts)cardonay
(26 posts)spanone
(135,823 posts)canetoad
(17,152 posts)A young woman and a young lady?
A. A young lady wouldn't serve you your own macerated goolies on twitter then return to her work of legislating in Washington DC.
You know cardonay, you're only making it worse for yourself.
cardonay
(26 posts)Luckily for you, you can't possibly make that one worse.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Lord. I could do a better job at picking battles and feuds if I were in a job that requires thick skin and duck's back-feathers.
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)89. Yet you have not. /nt
niyad
(113,259 posts)Last edited Tue Sep 14, 2021, 02:09 PM - Edit history (1)
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)niyad
(113,259 posts)to deal with this bs everywhere. Tolerance and acceptance of "It's just not that important" allows and encourages worse.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)I know how to pick my battles. My general philosophy is that I've never believed that every slight, real or imagined, is worth going to war over. We have bigger problems and this is a distraction from the work that needs to be done. He sneered, she growled. Time to move on. Good lord.
The Magistrate
(95,244 posts)Best comment I've seen yet on the matter, Ma'am.
I would add, she didn't have the sneer coming, he more than deserves the growl.
What makes it a sneer is the deliberate disregard of her elected position as a Representative in the House. That's not like calling a high school valedictorian a young lady, or a young man.
cardonay
(26 posts)I guess that makes him a man-hater who is patronizing against men, or something.
You made a good point, NurseJackie.
Link to tweet
?s=20
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)Didn't think so.
Response to NurseJackie (Reply #71)
ExTex This message was self-deleted by its author.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)BGBD
(3,282 posts)Every time he cam get AOC to tweet something about him his poll numbers I'm WV go up a point.
AOC is as easy to bait as Trump is.
niyad
(113,259 posts)Murdering orange traitor**? And before coffee, too. Just. . .wow.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)48656c6c6f20
(7,638 posts)The rescue of Joe the wonderful Democrat.
Celerity
(43,317 posts)niyad
(113,259 posts)dflprincess
(28,075 posts)I found it telling & depressing how many men commenting on it just don't get it. And I was surprised by the women who did't either - especially the younger ones. Fortunately, they were in the minority of the clueless.
mdelaguna
(471 posts)Arazi
(6,829 posts)flying_wahini
(6,589 posts)And if you wanna go back to relive it just watch Mrs. America with Cate Blanchett. (Hulu)
A real blast from the past. If you havent seen it please treat yourself and watch it.
AKwannabe
(5,651 posts)PUNCH HIM!
Matters not
Balls?
Face?
😂
Celerity
(43,317 posts)This was far worse, plus she was right there when it happened, and she showed more restraint than I would have:
Link to tweet
twodogsbarking
(9,732 posts)budkin
(6,699 posts)Total POS