Why do you sometimes address women as sir?

Women with high knowledge status and high respect are called "sir"

For a long time, women have been called "gentlemen" only when they are well educated, prestigious and respected. It is generally used by high-level people or literati in society, and people are also very stingy when using it. Few ladies are called "gentlemen".

"Sir" is the default pronoun of men most of the time. During the Republic of China, women began to be liberated, and some women became teachers, so the public also called them "ladies". Therefore, addressing a respected woman with high knowledge and status as "Mr" has become a social habit at that time.

Extended data

Various usages of "sir"

1, teachers and other educators. In ancient times, learned men and women could be called this way, so "Ms. Jiang Yang" will be called "Mr. Jiang Yang".

2. honorifics for intellectuals and adult men with certain status.

3. Call someone else's husband or the opposite person your husband.

In the old society, people engaged in accounting, storytelling, physiognomy, divination and geomantic omen were also called "gentlemen".

Anyone who is highly respected can be called "sir" to show respect, not necessarily referring to men. For example, Soong Ching Ling, Jiang Yang, Bing Xin, Ding Ling, Ye Man and Xu Guangping can all be called Mr. ..

6. Now all men can be called "sir". This is the most commonly used usage in our modern Chinese.

Baidu encyclopedia-sir

Baidu Encyclopedia-The last female gentleman in China took stock of the women called "Mr".