One less French word to learn: Mademoiselle

"Mademoiselle" has gone the same way as the words "email" or "weekend"... it has officially been banned from official use in the French language. The feminist groups, Osez le Feminisme and Les Chiennes de Garde, in their movement "Mademoiselle, la case en trop!" claimed that distinguishing women as a Mademoiselle (equivalent of Miss) or Madame (equivalent of Mrs.) is blatant sexism. Like in English, this is not done for the men... before you are a "Monsieur", you are not a "Mondamoiseau." The suffix means "virgin"... which may not apply to many Mademoiselles nowadays. Especially with the increasing numbers of single mothers, divorced women, or couples who prefer to be in a PACS (civil union).

I think it will be difficult to call a young girl madame, so I am sure mademoiselle, like weekend, will still be unofficially used.

They start them young in France.

In other related news, "Dr" is still not an acceptable/official title like it is in the US. All those years of grad school for nothing!