Talking point

Is it time to ditch our titles?

THE use of female titles – Mrs, Miss and Ms – is something that has been widely debated recently. The topic was discussed on BBC Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour”.

University of Cambridge’s Dr Amy Erickson explained that “Mrs”, “Miss” and “Ms” are all abbreviations of “mistress”.

Her research, published in the “History Workshop Journal”, shows “Mrs” was once used to identify women with capital, rather than denoting marital status.

A University of Cambridge blog about the research stated that it wasn’t society’s desire to mark a woman’s potential availability for marriage.

“Socially ambitious young single women used ‘Miss’ to identify their gentility, as distinct from businesswomen or upper servants.”

On “Woman’s Hour”, Dr Erickson explained that titles once distinguished age and status.

In the 1900s, “Ms” was introduced as a solution to not knowing someone’s marital status.

Stella Sutcliffe also appeared on “Woman’s Hour”. She started the Go Title Free campaign after receiving a letter addressed to Mr and Mrs G. Sutcliffe.

She felt her identity was entirely removed.

“This is something neither my father nor ex-husband has gone through.”

Some people, however, are proud of their titles.

One “Woman’s Hour” listener said, “I don’t want to give up my ‘Mrs’ title. Instead of ticking ‘partner’, I want ‘husband.’”

Esther Rantzen lost her husband years ago, yet, like many widows, retains her married title.

Rather than feeling a loss of identity when she married, she said she gained a new one.

She used her maiden name professionally.

“Though he died years ago, I am Mrs Desmond Wilcox,” she revealed in a “Daily Mail” article. “It may seem old-fashioned, but that’s the name I love best.”

“New Statesman” revealed 90% of heterosexual women in the UK take their husband’s surname.

Writer Tracy King argues women shouldn’t be expected to broadcast their marital status.

“It reinforces the notion our value is in relation to someone else,” she said.

Mumsnet.com saw opinions divided.

One user said being a wife was an important part of her identity she’d like to have acknowledged.

Another thought keeping options of “Miss”, “Ms” and “Mrs” demonstrates women can make up their own mind.

This debate won’t be settled any time soon! ■