What’s in a word?
“little old ladies”
Konrad Marshall’s use of the term “little old ladies” attracted controversy and opprobrium.
See “Stewart who? The Aussie runner on track for Olympic glory”, Konrad Marshall, June 28 2021, The Good Weekend (The Age)
Words often depend upon the context and the audience. Some letter writers criticised the use of the phrase – “little old ladies” — others defended it.
Context and MCDC: In social contexts that consist of casual acquaintances and different genders, Kate Burridge believes that speakers should abide by what she terms, the Middle Class Default Criterion (MCDC) which is the natural or normal default conditions for polite and respectful language. She defines this as a “language exchange between casual acquaintances of different sexes”. Conversely, where the context consists of close friends and/or the same gender then it is more socially acceptable to flout the normal default conditions.
For example if the conversation comprises group members of the same sex and of the same /intimate social status then it is possible to subvert rules for inclusive and non-discriminatory language. This subversion often cements familial relationships and strengths the group’s bonds.
If a close friend of the same gender calls a person a “slut” it may be used as a term of endearment and affection. Sometimes it might be uttered with enthusiasm which can have positive connotations of “what’s up, sluts”; to signal membership of a girl’s in-group.
Social commentator and writer Mia Freedman states, “by owning a stereotype or reclaiming a word, you can subvert the hate or the prejudice associated with it.”
Konrad Marshall writes: “McSweyn grew up on 600 undulating hectares for 500 head of Black Angus cattle, and where vicious Antarctic southerlies fly off Bass Strait, keeping the wool fibre clean on 4000 head of Merino sheep. Farm life meant drenching sheep, marking calves, getting around the herd on motorbike or ute, and, during shearing season, sorting clean woollen curls from those covered in shit. It meant nights bagging sheep poo to sell to little old ladies.”
Anja Tanhane (“Rapid thigh movement (July 10)”, “I would have thought that, in 2021, the phrase “little old ladies” would have been consigned to that special part of hell where misogyny, ignorance and disrespect rule the day.”
Ms Rosie McCarthy writes: (“We can’t talk any more”, The Good Weekend) I have no problem with Konrad Marshall’s use of the term “little old ladies”. “Really, what is the world coming to, when we can’t even refer to little old ladies as “little old ladies”!? It’s a term of endearment, if anything, and I’ve worked hard all my life to attain the status of “little old lady”. I’m very fit and healthy, more creative and pro-active than ever, a sole income earner, a valued grandmother, and very helpful to my community … If Ms Tanhane believes the term to be disparaging, maybe she has a negative concept of old people. Wait till you get there, Ms Tanhane! For many of us it’s absolutely liberating! I think the world must be losing some very good prospective writers and speakers, as it’s just too scary making one’s words public these days. Somebody will misconstrue, take offence and make one very big deal of it!” (Rosie McCarthy, Mitcham).