Calling us Auntie or Uncle is no insult | Letters

Readers respond to an article by Lola Okolosie about whether calling a woman ‘auntie’ is a sign of ageism or a mark of respect Re Lola Okolosie’s article ( Is calling a woman ‘auntie’ ageist harassment – or a mark of respect? It’s a trickier question than you think, 31 March ), I was interested to read uncle/auntie described as honorifics. Growing up (I’m 60-plus years old, Scottish), I think it operated as a familiar term. I was taught to call close friends of my parents Aunt Jane or Uncle John. Otherwise Mister/Miss. Clearly, there is an honorific element – if I am (as a child) calling you Aunt, you are close to my parents, but it was not related to age – I would never have dreamed of calling anyone Aunt/Uncle on an age basis. Aunt/Uncle expired with age. Once I became a teenager, Aunt Jane just became Jane. Douglas Leggat Stockport Continue reading...

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