Single mum sparks debate as she says it's time to get rid of titles like Miss and Mrs

A single mum has sparked debate online after she said that now is the right time to ditch titles such as Miss and Mrs.

The anonymous mum took to the parenting forum Mumsnet to explain that when she was purchasing a lamp, the shop assistant asked her if she is a 'Miss, Ms or Mrs' - something the assistant said she hates asking for.

Though this is likely store policy, as it is in the majority of places, the post has sparked conversation as to if personal titles should be scrapped all together.

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The woman wrote on Mumsnet: "I was ordering something in a shop the other day and the assistant, in her 20s, was putting my details into their system.

"She said, 'I hate asking this, I find it so embarrassing but are you Miss, Ms or Mrs?'

"I replied I'm Miss. I was there with my daughter so in that one exchange I'd divulged I was a single, unmarried parent.

"It's not information the shop needs for me to order a lamp. And if I was a man, they'd be Mr and none the wiser as to marital status.

"I know I could say Ms but does any married woman really use Ms? So Ms just ends up sounding like a Miss with issues."

The mum then went on to say that the exchange got her thinking about personal titles such as 'Miss' and how often we use them.

She added that they should be 'scrapped from form filling', and that identifying woman by their marital status is 'outdated'.

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The mum concluded: "It's International Women's Day tomorrow and in the spirit of embracing equity, isn't it time we abolished women being defined by marital status?"

The post has garnered a large reaction on Mumsnet, with people divided on whether the titles are outdated or not.

"I use Ms and I’m married. What are the issues? It’s a straightforward - marital status isn’t relevant," one user wrote.

A second added: "I've been a Ms since my 20's, through marriage, divorce etc. Really don't see the problem here."

Meanwhile, a third agreed with the mum: "Agree with you 100%. This has irked me for years, just not necessary."

And another had similar views, writing: "Agree, it’s utterly pointless."

Topics: Parenting

Callum Jones