What is it with calling older women "momma" when they are customers at a business?

[hamsterjill]

137. I understand that.

That may be fine for a biker show, but this was a business. And the inequity of it was that the worker admitted that she would call a male a more respectful name than what she called me.

I wasn't called mamacita. I was called "momma".

I don't want to be called "momma" by anyone that I didn't give birth to, and I don't think that's wrong for me (or anyone else) to expect to be respected as a paying customer and treated with courtesy, especially given that the worker would not use a nickname for a male customer.

Up thread, I posted a video of Maya Angelou insisting that she be called "Ms. Angelou" by a younger woman. Ms. Angelou was 62 at the time. I'm older than that, and while I won't insist on always being called "Ms _______" by a younger person, I have not given a younger person working in a drive through the license to call me "momma" either.

Best to stay professional with "sir" (which is what the worker said she'd call a male) and "ma'am" for women like me.