A Swiss village has struck a blow for women's rights by ordering its officials not to use the term "Fraulein," the equivalent of "Miss" in English.
Instead, the officials of Wuerenlos, 10 miles north of Zurich, must use the more respectful word "Frau" to address women, regardless of their marital status, the local authority said Monday.Swiss women's organizations argue that the word "Fraulein" is a diminutive, and thereby implies a woman is not to be taken seriously.
But despite their attempts to encourage the use of "Frau" as the proper term for all women - just as "Herr" applies equally to bachelors and married men - "Fraulein" remains deeply ingrained in the popular vocabulary.
Swiss women got the vote at the federal level only in 1972.
Feminist groups complain they still lag behind most West European women in the fight for equal rights.