Overuse Of The Term, 'Thai Ladies'.

[GeorgeO]

I think some of you are missing the point. The OP is asking why call Thai females 'ladies' and not farang females. What he is asking is why the difference?

I think it's a good observation and as somebody has alluded to already, it is possibly overcompensation for derogatory sentiments.

I would have to agree with an earlier comment, which is that (certainly in my experience) English "females" began objecting strongly to the term "girls". However, we English "gentlemen" or "blokes" (I don't mind) felt that to use the term "women" was slightly less than proper. So we settled for the term "ladies". Nothing more to it than the 'political correctness' referred to earlier.

[glegolo]

I'd have to agree with joe ekkamai: most English-speaking Thai women refer to themselves and others as 'lady. The word is easy for them containing two very common and therefore easily pronounced Thai syllables, the latter of which can also mean 'good'. Both girl and woman are not such attractive sound to the Thai ear, for one thing they both end in consonants.

Yes, I agree too with a part of this analyse. It is the thai ladies/people themself that wanted to use this word in order to show all these men coming to Thailand that thai girls not are either "this or that" in demeaning words... But that she is a Lady and wants some respect. I guess that they were just sick and tired of the behaviour of the early men coming to the bars in Thailand. But this is only my opinion of course..

Glegolo

[jdinasia]

Part of it is political correctness. Some Western women and feminine feminist guys object to calling young women "girls".

My understanding :

Up to 13 : girl

13 - 18 : teenage girl

18- 30 : young lady (actually 25 but I'm being nice here)

> 30 : woman

Now you can use "girl" if the "girls" are close friends and/or are the same age as you.

But, as I said, it probably mostly depends of your culture.

I think we (UK) prob. use 'girl' for someone into their twenties , then use 'woman' upwards from that. We don't have that 'young lady' category you speak of. Anyway, still doesn't answer the question of the OP. We don't really use the 'teenage girl' thing either.

Because it is "common practice" here.

This isn't the UK, nor is it the US. Note how many people refer to themselves and other westerners as "farang". Why? It isn't English. It is just common practice. Do I care that it creeps you out? No. Should you care what terminology is used? No.

It appears that you have a lot of "the way we use the term/ the way we do things/ the way we .... in the UK" to get over.

[Rimmer]

derogatory post removed from view

[Luang]

Part of it is political correctness. Some Western women and feminine feminist guys object to calling young women "girls".

My understanding :

Up to 13 : girl

13 - 18 : teenage girl

18- 30 : young lady (actually 25 but I'm being nice here)

> 30 : woman

Now you can use "girl" if the "girls" are close friends and/or are the same age as you.

But, as I said, it probably mostly depends of your culture.

I think we (UK) prob. use 'girl' for someone into their twenties , then use 'woman' upwards from that. We don't have that 'young lady' category you speak of. Anyway, still doesn't answer the question of the OP. We don't really use the 'teenage girl' thing either.

Because it is "common practice" here.

This isn't the UK, nor is it the US. Note how many people refer to themselves and other westerners as "farang". Why? It isn't English. It is just common practice. Do I care that it creeps you out? No. Should you care what terminology is used? No.

It appears that you have a lot of "the way we use the term/ the way we do things/ the way we .... in the UK" to get over.

Well yes, i'm well aware it's 'common practice', That's why i asked the question in the first place.

And you are right, this isn't the US OR UK. That is the crux of my question though, why are they using a term for a Thai female that they would otherwise not use for an equivalent western female? Or are you suggessting those same people also refer to foreign females as 'foreign/western ladies' whilst here?

I personally don't use either term, 'farang' or 'ladies'. Why would i? I,ve never used such terms before i got here.

And why do i need 'to get over' making reference to my home country when that is where i'm from, and i'm including UK expats in my question?

Seems to me that someone needs to get over themselves, before they fall of that horse up there!

Have a nice weekend.

[andrewbkk]

I don't think the term "lady" is as common as the OP believes.

Sure, it's common amongst tourists and elderly fools who live here in a state of self-denial, but it's seldom used by most people who've lived here a long time.

Obvious examples are schoolgirls and bar girls and office girls. And there's that nice little woman who sells penang moor and mussuman ghai just next to 7-11. And there's always those horrific queues in Tescos because they never seem to employ enough checkout girls. And there's that funny old woman in soi 12 who does my laundry and has just had the audacity to charge an extra 5 baht per piece. And there's that gorgeous girl who I've seen walking around the village for the last few weeks and who actually lives in soi 7 and not soi 8 as I had previously imagined.

So yes, the term "lady" is used but I don't think it's that common.

For ladyboys, things are a bit different. If a six foot male with a deep voice were to introduce himself to me as a girly boy, I guess that would come over as a bit ridiculous.

[Eastender]

Spanish woman, American woman, but Thai lady??? I'm gald you raised the point - the term 'Thai lady' has always bugged me, and I do believe its just as common outside of Thailand, probably more so and spread about by the internet and TV. Its possibly more commonly used as a collective term 'Thai ladies' than an individual one, 'that Thai woman over there'. And that's why I think the term seems to class female Thais as another species. I had an experience in a bank in the UK when the assistant was trying to say 'your wife' but paused and stuttered and came out with 'your lady' as though the term wife could not be used with Thais? To me the term conjurs up images of submissive dainty ladies dancing in traditional costume, or worse still dating websites to find your 'Thai lady'.

Lets stop using this term. (Though what will we call lady boys - I vote for 'he-shes')?

[baboon]

To me, it just sounds condescending somehow. Rather like "Thai brides."

[StreetCowboy]

To me, it just sounds condescending somehow. Rather like "Thai brides."

You would not know 'condescending' if it came up and stroked you on your sweet little bonce, my good man...

SC

[Eastender]

To me, it just sounds condescending somehow. Rather like "Thai brides."

I agree and it makes me cringe every time I hear it.

[4evermaat]

I'd have to agree with joe ekkamai: most English-speaking Thai women refer to themselves and others as 'lady. ......

I second that. The Thai women in Hawaii, USA use girlfriend often when asking about your partner. Here in Thailand, my experience has been "you have lady?" or " let me speak to your lady". I don't take it personal, as English is not their first language. Then again, I'm not a female, either.

[harrycallahan]

I've found the term being used by thai women, or one in particular, to specifically refer to the paid for variety e.g. "you take lady last night?". She's gone onto elaborate that by "lady" she means that kind. Which is the reverse of course to the english meaning where a lady is someone that wouldn't go home with a guy for money.

[gregb]

My Thai wife, 31, thinks that any woman who would be offended by being called a "girl" is just foolish, and any man who would be worried about calling a female a girl is a moron. She loves it when she is called a girl. She has no desire to be called a "lady" or a "woman". She can't understand why anyone would willingly want to be called old?

We were out at a temple in Ayuttaya and one of the young school girls came over and wanted to hold the baby. She called my wife "Ba". I still hear about it 3 months later. That stupid little girl has cost me 10,000 baht in beauty treatments. I'd go back and wring her little neck if I could.

Please, please, please. Call every female you meet "girl". No other term is acceptable. You just might be talking with my wife, and my wallet simply can't afford anything else.

[LarryBird]

'Lady' carries an assumption of class. And a lot of Thai women do things that make them classy.. Don't swear, don't smoke, don't act like men, act proper and polite. That's class, and if they have it, they get called a 'Lady'.

[dean999]

I only use the word Lady if i feel they are one.

Tattoos are not for lady's. Do you see the Queen with one.

[MAJIC]

I don't mind the address Ladies,if that's what they prefer to be known as.

But it doe's irk me see and hear females collectively calling themselves "Guys"

When are they going to get it ? a Guy is a :

Man or Boy. According to good Dictionaries.

Edited March 18, 2011 by MAJIC

[bunta71]

Part of it is political correctness. Some Western women and feminine feminist guys object to calling young women "girls".

This is correct although I am in the habit of calling elderly western women "girls" at times and have always been thanked for it. Many say "I haven't been called that for 50 years..that makes me feel young again!" The ones with no sense of humor aren't worth talking to anyway. The feminazis do not like it though...

[bunta71]

I'd have to agree with joe ekkamai: most English-speaking Thai women refer to themselves and others as 'lady. The word is easy for them containing two very common and therefore easily pronounced Thai syllables, the latter of which can also mean 'good'. Both girl and woman are not such attractive sound to the Thai ear, for one thing they both end in consonants.

Yes, I agree with your analysis.

The W in women is difficult, as are the R and L in girl. (for Thai people).

My father (Lord rest him) always maintained that English was incorrect. e.g. Ladies and Gentlemen ---- should be ---- Ladies and Lords. (or Gentle-ladies and Gentlemen)

And then of course ( to mention only) there is the expression ------ ''Ladies of the night''. But, I doubt is this is what is meant. It seems to be more simplistic.

So, to be fair to the OP, I have also noticed this, and was mildly curious.

The W in women is dificult unless they talk about my wolwo car

[gregb]

Sorry, wrong thread.

Edited March 19, 2011 by gregb

[Phil Conners]

I have wondered about this as in Europe the word lady usually refer to a "nobility" - what you'd probably call a hi-so in Thailand - but I assumed it probably derived from USA where I think it is more commonly used as a general term for women.

[Moonrakers]

To me, it just sounds condescending somehow. Rather like "Thai brides."

Perfect analogy.

That is exactly the same context in which it us used.