Social:MRS Degree
A MRS Degree or M.R.S. Degree is a slang term in North American English[1] for when a young woman attends college or university with the intention of finding a potential spouse, as opposed to pursuing academic achievement for a future career.[2][3] The term derives from "Mrs.", a common honorific for married women,[4] and its similarity to abbreviations for academic degrees, such as "M.S." for a Master of Science. It is a faux acronym, as the letters are pronounced individually when spoken aloud but do not stand for anything individually.[4] The term has negative connotations.[4] The earliest use of the term was in 1860,[1] but the term "MRS degree" was most commonly used during the mid 20th century in North America, a period of time when higher education became more accessible, yet the possibilities for women were still very limited.[5][1]
See also
- Sex discrimination in education
- Sexism in academia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "MRS, n. 2 meaning". https://www.oed.com/dictionary/mrs_n2?tab=meaning_and_use.
- ↑ Pesoli, Christina (April 2, 2014). "Why Susan Patton's Advice to Get a "MRS Degree" Is As Wrong As Her Math". The Huffington Post. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-susan-pattons-advice-to-get-an-mrs-degree-is-as-wrong-as-her-math_b_5065968.
- ↑ Bielski, Zosia (April 4, 2013). "Studying the case for a new Mrs. degree in marriage". The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/studying-the-case-for-a-new-mrs-degree-in-marriage/article10790026/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "M.R.S degree". The Rice University Neologisms Database. rice.edu. https://neologisms.rice.edu/index.php?a=term&d=1&t=17575.
- ↑ Strydom, Lara (April 11, 2018). "Students and faculty discuss the idea of 'Mrs.' degree". The Red & Black. https://www.redandblack.com/culture/students-and-faculty-discuss-the-idea-of-mrs-degree/article_5b353f7a-4059-11e8-85f8-639c3715284b.html.
 |  |
