Comparison-Lady Vs. Woman Essay, Research Paper

As one speaks, usually, thoughts flow in and out, making what is said a whirlwind of terms. As a teenager in now the ?new? millennium, two perplex me that seem commonly misused and misspoken; the words of ?Lady? and ?Woman?. Many might feel as if these two words are as interchangeable as the books in a library, however, I strongly disagree. Though these two words are similar, distinct differences exist between them.

A lady is defined as a well-mannered woman. Luckily, only the last half of this title is obtainable by birth. Albeit, a woman is a grown female. A lady is therefore a well mannered grown female. Unfortunately, in an age of bastardized language, the meanings of these two words have been made grossly opaque. For instance, the word lady in today’s vernacular might be used to describe any female. However, in actuality the title of lady should be given only to the women who exhibits impeccable civility in both manners and demeanor. One must realize a lady symbolizes the utmost respected part of society among women, to which only a socially selected few are admitted.

The felicitous title of lady is one received while demonstrating both honor and responsibility. Yet, many women look upon this title as a birthright. Every title one has surely deserved, should be one earned by displaying it. In the Elizabethan period of English, most arguably the finest period for the English language, the title of lady was revered, as it should be now. Because of constant language inflation, the flippant use of the word lady is a direct result of the derestricton that occurred mostly during the early1900’s. It was used to talk and describe the beautiful women of the time. These women wore raiment?s? to shape and mold their bodies into the ultimate female figure. They were only seen at their best, and perfection was to be expected. Jobs for ladies consisted of solely of a ?housewife? and society waif. Their men were their shields to the world, and their chivalry was idealized.

The title of woman isn’t a true title, but more of a classification given to any female who has experienced her first menstruation. In contrast to a lady, a woman is more of a ?real? female. There should be nothing mistaken or fake about her. Women?s jobs consist of raising the children, tending to the husband, and unlike a lady, tending to herself. A Woman also has a job of her own, desires of her own, and a mind of her own. While a lady describes the female of the past, a woman is one of the future. My mother is a woman with her own successful career, but yet, looks beautiful, and tends to the house. My Aunt, on the other hand, is a Lady who stays home with her daughter and cooks for her husband. Although my relationship with my own mother seems weaker on the surface than that of my Aunt and her daughter, a relationship is present and may even be stronger. A complete woman is one who is able to care for those around her, while never loosing focus on what she dreams and wants out of her life.

In comparison, however, these malanged words, Lady and Woman, are similar in that they both denote a female. At this point in time, unfortunately, these words have become degradingly synonymous. These words may be used as a tool of kindness or of degradation; the intent behind the use of these words can be discovered via the connotation used by the speaker. For instance, if a woman cuts in front of a gentleman in line, he might exclaim ?Lady, what are you doing?? The Gentleman would then be stating the woman in front of him did not exhibit traits becoming of a lady: manners, and strong etiquette. Referring to a woman as a woman however, is a rather lascivious usage. This is due to the fact one should not refer to a human being, as a sexual gender-it is just not widely accepted in today’s society. This classification implies inequality or a superiority of one gender, which is demeaning to both.

Ultimately, both words encompass similar and yet different meanings. Their similarities are sound, and yet the differences are vast. An understanding of both Woman and Lady must be obtained by our society if any honor is to be regained by the meaning of either title. Although some may recognize the difference, their ability to correctly categorize them remains even slimmer. I hope that with the New Year, individual standards of excellence will increase, and so will the correct usage of these two very distinct words.

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