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 it does not stand for anything individually even though its letters are pronounced individually when spoken aloud.[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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "MRS, n. 2 meaning". Oxford English Dictionary.
- ^ Pesoli, Christina (April 2, 2014). "Why Susan Patton's Advice to Get a "MRS Degree" Is As Wrong As Her Math". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ Bielski, Zosia (April 4, 2013). "Studying the case for a new Mrs. degree in marriage". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ a b "M.R.S degree". The Rice University Neologisms Database. rice.edu. Archived from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ Strydom, Lara (April 11, 2018). "Students and faculty discuss the idea of 'Mrs.' degree". The Red & Black. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
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