Is it rude or pleasant chit chat to make a remark about a woman's age?

[goo_head_83]

We have all heard about the references people make to women. If a woman and her daughter are together, someone may say that the daughter must be her sister because the woman looks too young to have a daughter that age. Or a woman may hear that she is too young to have a granddaughter that age. And sometimes a woman may even hear that she must be her father's wife and not his daughter. I myself was mistaken for being over 21 at a liquor store when I was only 11. Are these mistakes with women's ages, based solely on their appearances, something flattering or insulting?

 

[john m]

Looking like sisters - flattering.
Too young to have a granddaughter - flattering.
Told you must be the man's wife, not his daughter - although well-intentioned, not flattering on any level.
Liquor store thinking an 11-year-old is 21 - Well, Goo', either the clerk had been drinking a lot of the merchandise, he was kidding you, or you had on way too much makeup, that one is ALSO troublesome on many levels.
Comments on a woman's age usually are called "catty," and that's not flattering. I think it's always best to stay away from a woman's age unless she brings up the topic - twice.

 

[Chrisy]

if your another woman around the same age its ok but if ur a guy or a woman but younger its not ok

 

[Duct Tape Fixes All]

Um, it really depends how big the difference is and in which direction and the current age of the woman. I get mistaken for being 21 a lot. But for older women I don't imagine they like being called 80 or something like that. So under the right conditions, it can be very flattering, and under the wrong conditions it can be very rude.

 

[fizixx]

All are intended to be compliments.

I suppose some small subset are folks that don't know and sincerely ask.

Asking if a daughter is the father's wife....well, young kids like to be thought of as older, so again.........compliment. being in an establishment that requires folks of a certain age to make purchases....that question has nothing whatsoever to do with compliments or otherwise.