Honey. Baby. Sweetie. Cutie. What do these four words have in common? They are all NOT my name, but lately I’ve noticed how many times
complete strangers have called out to me, talked to me, referred to me, as the aforementioned words. And it’s not just me, either. I’ve heard plenty of people call their waitresses in restaurants and female shop workers “honey,” too. It used to be that dealing with cat calls from a construction site was a rite of passage for a young girl, but these days the
passive aggressive sweet nothings are being called out a lot closer to home . . . by the pizza delivery guy, the over-friendly bus driver, a new co-worker, the list goes on and on and it’s pissing me off.
Out of the
right mouth, “baby” and “honey” are terms of endearment. One of my best friends always sends me text’s that say “love ya sweetie” and my mom always calls me “honey,” but coming out of the mouth of a relative stranger these words take on a
completely different meaning. They’re insults disguised as compliments, a vocabulary wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s infantilizing–I mean, you might call a five year old “honey,” but to anyone
old enough to wear big-girl clothes, it’s degrading.
Naturally, this name calling is a phenomenon that only happens to females. Could you
even imagine calling a guy you didn’t know “Babe” in casual conversation? Or referring to the man interviewing you for a job as “Cutie?” Nooooo!!! We would never do that, because it would be unprofessional and seen as insulting. So, why I ask is it okay for the opposite sex? It gives a
false sense of intimacy to a total non-relationship. We are not friends, we are not a couple, you probably don’t even know my name, so I’m thinking cutie-honey-sweetie-baby is not an appropriate moniker.
Don’t call me baby (or any of those other names!)–even if you say it with the best of intentions. It’s demeaning and insulting even if you say it with a smile. As they say “You catch more bees with honey,” and this bee prefers to be called by her name!
Do you get mad when strangers call you “baby” or “honey”–or do you think it’s totally okay? Tell me all about it in the comments!
This Girl Has Has Enough Of Cat Calling. Have You?
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I am ok with honey and baby but am not ok with sweetie or sweetheart. My
Principal calls me sweetie and I’m ok with that. I actually love it when he calls me that. But when someone I don’t know calls me that I get angry. We’re not friends,I don’t know you, you have no right to call me that. Usually it’s waiters/waitresses in restrants tha do
This. I know I am young,but I
Still would rather
Be
Addreses as Ma’am or miss.
Y’all need to get over it. Back in my day, the girls got upset if you didn’t call them baby, sweetie, honey, toots, sugartits, or something like that. They thought you didn’t like them. You should be glad the guys are interested because one day, they won’t be.
I only allow my principal to call me sweetie. I actually get upset when he doesn’t do it. I hate it when everyone else does it though.
I think it’s totally fine to call a women Sweetie Honey or Mam I’m a Southern Gentlemen and “Easy” is right get over it you would think you would like being called nice thing’s rather then being called “Hey Girl” or “Hey Shawty” or whatever that stuff is …..Stop being so mental if a guy wants to call you sweetie don’t let it be a deal breaker Geesh …..
Actually, to tell you the truth, I dont mind it. I know
its not like its a big deal. Why make it that way.
people who do. But, me, its fine.
I wish all women thought like you….Think big picture its a simple compliment why look into things
a guy i just met called me babe, cutie, boo, sweetie…kept asking to hang out; was all flirty and then when i told him straight up i’m not interested, he gets all butthurt and says “get over yourself. NOT interested in you that way.” so confusing and annoying.
The only time it DOESN’T make me upset is if it’s a realllllyyy old person, and I can tell they aren’t trying to be creepy or demeaning at all. I’ve realized it’s just a way the the elderly talk to people who are way younger than them (20s or younger). But coming from anyone who ISN’T old enough to benefit from the senior citizens discount is totally not okay. I am not your “baby”, don’t call me that, it’s annoying as hell. Fortunately, I don’t get it a lot at work (I work at a game store in a pretty nice town, so the people there are pretty chill). UNfortunately, I do LIVE in an area where there are a lot of jerks who think they can say/do whatever, especially to women, because they just see them as objects… it’s sick.
I work as a cashier and I get so many older guys that call me “baby” and “honey” or “sweetheart” and I give them the most disgusted look because half the time they are old enough to be my dad! And I’m sorry but the only man I want calling me those names is my husband! I swear one of these days I’m going to end up losing my job for going off on these jerks!
Yesterday a man in in 40 s called me babe ! And i said excuse me sir ? İ was really pissed
Actually this happens to me all of the time, and I’m a guy. It is incredibly demeaning, regardless of who you are in my opinion.
lol in trinidad they call us Family -.- and i usually ignore them or reply
“mi nah ya family hose so don’t call me dat meh not related to yuh”
and yes we trini’s write like dat lol i’m tryin not to type like that so ppl cud understand me
hahahahahahaha, i’m from tobago!!!
i dont even like it when my boyfriend calls me baby!
When I was with my ex we NEVER used pet names… we just used our real names. I thought about saying “babe” or “sweetie” or something like that once or twice, but it seemed weird… I would be okay with “babe” or “sweetie” in a serious, long-term relationship, but I have an issue with “baby” for some reason… and you can forget about super gushy pet names lol.
If I’m not your girlfriend or if we aren’t together like that don’t call me baby. I don’t mind honey and sweetie though.
Oh Yeah! Another time i was in the mall ( i was window shopping), i kind of got lost ( i was distracted checking out a pair of *Donna Karen heels) and so i had founded a info center of that very mall. There was a helpful mature man there that was doing his job.
By the time i thank him for the information he have given to me, he call out to me,
( Here me out, pleasee!)” * BYE CUTIE PIE!!”. REALLLLY!!! What year is he from!? The 1950s!? -_-
i don’t know, i don’t like “baby” as much, cos that’s really personal, but sweetie/honey/love/ma’am/miss is something i grew up with in the south. you know, that southern-comfort sort of thing. so it doesn’t really bother me. it’s a LOT better than “girl” that’s for sure.
I hate it for strangers but I am quite fond of pet names. If your not with me I will threaten you, if you are, it’s endearing. I guess I’m a bit of a hypocrite.
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Its just awful when strangers do that! But it feels so good to be called babe by your so
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Ugh! I absolutely do NOT like that!
AUGH! I hate that! And “Sweetie.” too. =__=
I also hate “Ma’am” even though it’s MEANT to be respectful. I’m a young adult. Not married. not old. I’m a lady- a MISS if anything.
AGREED!!!! ^^