Out With the Old Labels

Why can't everyone be as vivid and perceptive when describing certain women of a certain age as the lovely and hilarious Mindy Kaling? She came up with this gem on her blog:

[The comb is] Good for: Tots. Peter Pan. Old dames with thin hair with a sense of humor.

It's the sort of description that would have made me think, twenty years ago, Yeah, that's what I'll be like when I get old.

Old dame, sense of humor--who wouldn't aspire to that delectable combo?

But the thing I love the most about this description is that it is, at the same time, very matter-of-fact and quite keen. She has taken note of the fact that women retain distinguishing characteristics after menopause--without acting surprised about it.

I have to tell you that the day I read this, one of my students had said to me, "I don't give a sh*t, old lady" at one of my attempts at classroom management.

And one of my colleagues had referred to my co-teacher as "the young teacher in your classroom." Why not the "other teacher"? Or, if labels are necessary, the "teacher with curly hair and cute dimples"? Here's an idea--learn her name so you don't have to insult either one of us!

I'm tired of the lousy, uncreative labels I hear everyday. Thank you Mindy Kaling for doing what writers are supposed to do--observing closely and using words carefully to make a phrase fresh and true.

Original 50-something Moms Blog Post

quite keen. She has taken note of the fact that women retain distinguishing characteristics after menopause--without acting surprised about it.

I have to tell you that the day I read this, one of my students had said to me, "I don't give a sh*t, old lady" at one of my attempts at classroom management.

And one of my colleagues had referred to my co-teacher as "the young teacher in your classroom." Why not the "other teacher"? Or, if labels are necessary, the "teacher with curly hair and cute dimples"? Here's an idea--learn her name so you don't have to insult either one of us!

I'm tired of the lousy, uncreative labels I hear everyday. Thank you Mindy Kaling for doing what writers are supposed to do--observing closely and using words carefully to make a phrase fresh and true.

Original 50-something Moms Blog Post

Comments

[Cheryl Wenzel/New Mom Central]

I'm actually amazed that waiters and clerks still refer to me as Miss, instead of Ma'am. I can't help but wonder if they're doing this on purpose because they know women hate being called ma'am, or when I'm especially in the mood I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I actually look young enough to be called Miss. :)

(Hey! No bursting of my bubble! That's not nice!)

[Donna]

Hey, I'm amazed that at some establishments, I get carded. Oh wait -- that's now a law (to card EVERYONE). I'm amazed that some establishments are obeying a really stupid law.