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'Mademoiselle' gets boot in new French rules (AP)
more at link abovePARIS (AP) -- Forget what you learned in French class about "madame" and "mademoiselle." The French government now says women's marital status shouldn't matter, at least when it comes to this country's far-reaching bureaucracy.
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Until now, a woman has been required to identify herself as a married "madame" or an unmarried "mademoiselle" on everything from tax forms to insurance claims and voting cards. France offers no neutral option like the English "Ms."
Men don't face this issue: Their only option is "monsieur," married or not.
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Feminist groups have been pushing for the abolition of the "mademoiselle" option for years and hailed the circular.
"Everywhere we are asked to declare our marital status. This is not imposed on men, it's not important whether they are married," said Julie Muret of the group Osez le Feminisme.
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