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Masseur? Masseuse? Massage Therapist?
Is there a difference? Is one more or less offensive? I personally take offense to the word Masseuse. What is your take?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Napoleon Meadors III on
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I prefer the title Licensed Massage Therapist(LMT). It is difficult enough getting clients comfortable with receiving bodywork from a male therapist without dealing with the sexual and unprofessional images that society has attached to the names masseur and masseuse.
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Permalink Reply by Terry Craddock on
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one is the male gender and the other is female gender..Look at your license from state and the national certification..I believe it states licensed massage therapist... to call your self anything else is false...
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In Canada we use the term Registered Massage Therapist.
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Permalink Reply by Rachel Sheard, LMT, NCTMB, CIPI on
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Yes, I always refer to myself and other therapists as ...THERAPISTS. Or of course, LMT, MT, but definitely gets under my skin when I hear people say masseuse/masseur. I was completely amazed when I started working at a salon a couple years ago, and I met one of the other therapists in passing, and she asked me if I was the new masseuse. My immediate response was, Yes, I'm the new MASSAGE THERAPIST. And I was equally surprised when she seemed to take a little bit of offense to THAT! I always reinforce the therapist part when my clients use that other word too. Gotta get the good word out there more and educate.
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Permalink Reply by Jorge Arnaldo Pabón Acevedo on
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In my opinion I preffer Massage Therapist (Terapeuta de Masaje). Masseurs, masseuse? no thanks. In spanish "masajista" nether. But in Puerto Rico some people use the word "masajista" in the professional way, but I preffer Massage Therapist.
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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
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My official title, other than NCTMB, is Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist (North Carolina). However, I travel around a lot and I have noticed that the use of "masseuse" and "masseur" is still common in some areas and said without any malicious intent. While I will usually politely correct people in our office who use one of those terms, I consider the source. If it's some 90-year old who has used that term all her life and doesn't mean any ill will by it, I don't bother.
While our state practice act dictates the term above that we are supposed to use, it also states that to use the words "masseuse" and "masseur" and any other term implying that you are licensed to do massage is against the law, unless you are in fact licensed.
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Permalink Reply by Harry Banek on
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In Colorado, the Senate bill regarding the registration of massage therapists stated that "massage" or "massage therapy" means a system of structured touch, palpation, or movement of the soft tissue of another person's body in order to enhance or restore the general health and well-being of the recipient. Such system includes, but is not limited to, techniques such as effleurage, commonly called stroking or gliding; petrissage, commonly called kneading; tapotement or percussion; friction; vibration; compression; passive and active stretching within the normal anatomical range of movement; hydromassage; and thermal massage. such techniques may be applied with or without the aid of lubricants, salt or herbal preparations, water, heat, or a massage device that mimics or enhances the actions possible by human hands. The bill further stated that "massage therapist" means an individual registered by this state to engage in the practice of massage therapy. The terms "masseuse" and "masseur" are synonymous with the term "massage therapist".
So, masseur and masseuse are officially only to be used by those registered as massage therapists in the state of Colorado. Is there any misunderstanding about these two terms and what they connote? Very likely, so I mention to my clients that the preferred term is "massage therapist". My business cards and signage have "Registered Massage Therapist" or RMT.
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I say (Licensed) Massage Therapist ... (... just 'Therapist' could be too many other fields of people I know, and am studying to be a 'psycho-Therapist' ... can get confused). I used to get bristly about being called a 'Masseuse', until I realized that no one means it in a derogatory way, and I just don't say it myself, but don't mind if others do.
Oddly enough, on wordage and feeling offense ... have a long time client who askes about my "customers" (generally if business has been good) ... the word 'customers' grates on me. I have 'clients' not 'customers'. Anyhow, I feel weird making an issue of it.
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Permalink Reply by Vicki Walther on
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The terms "Masseusse and Masseur" bring to my mind an image of an untrained individual that offers massage and carries with them a negative connotation. While "therapist" is attributable to a professional trained within their field- who would questionthe merit of a ____therapist?
Personally, I am a massage therapist. I appreciate that the title presents the ethics, professionalism and training and knowledge behind what I do. The fact that I am "Registered" or "Licensed" is political and subject to much debate and legislation.
As a massage therapist, I have clients. "Patients" are in the realm of PhD holders and "customers" has a retail ring to it.
Semantics can become misunderstandings of perception. I chuckle when I am referred to as a masseusse and am likely to reply with a smile and say "Masseusses rub - I treat your aches and pains with my hands and offer massage therapy for relaxation and health.
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