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What do you think of the term "Masseuse?" or "Massage Parlor"? to describe your professional self?
Recently in my local Arlington, MA newspaper, an article ran describing legitimate massage businesses as "massage parlors" and the bodyworkers therein, as "Masseuses." The article went on to describe how local police had investigated whether these offices were operating legally. As reported, one of the businesses was shut down after a person offered sex for money. The others were operating legally.
In Mass. we are now 2 years into wonderful state licensure. Those who disagree with the term "wonderful" may not have had to have 5 licenses in the 5 towns they worked in with arbitrary fees and requirements such as a VD test, fingerprinting, extra passport pics of you for the Vice Squad files along with many other sordid and ridiculous things--but I digress and that's a different topic for a different blog post. In our licensing, "bodywork" was excluded from licensure of the various factions of bodyworkers own volition. One of the business "investigated" by the police were actually practicing Asian bodywork legally, and did not require a Mass. license. This being the press, much ballyhoo went into playing up the possibility of a sordid business happening vs. the therapeutic work that was more likely.
I wrote a letter to the editor educting them that the term "massage parlor" and "masseuse" was outdated and degrading to the many gifted practitioners in our chosen field. I also spoke of the above legislation, and that the bodyworkers were correct in not needing a license to practice. There's a backstory here which I will not go into, where the local Health Department extorted unnecessary fees from local MT's but again, a digression, although a player in the impetus of the investigation.
The writer of the article politely wrote back, professing ignorance of the correct term "massage therapist" and said that other businesses he knew of called themselves "parlors" He also said he was reluctant to use the word "office" thinking that meant desks and filecabinets, and was "studio" more appropriate. I answered in some cases that could be correct, but did a chiropractor, acupuncturist or dentist call their office a studio?
What do you think of these terms? What do you call your office, or place of business? Some of you may work in a "salon" or "spa" and these terms are absolutely appropriate. But my business is neither, and I call my business an office. It's actually in a collaborative healing center, which is also accurate and comfortable. Do you like to be called a "masseuse" ? What do you think of this term? If it comes from anyone other than someone who is French, I have a problem with it in that it has been used historyically to describe an escort or prostitute, or other in the sex industry or exchange. I told the editor I would weigh in nationally on this subject and I would really appreciate your professional opinon.
In Mass. we are now 2 years into wonderful state licensure. Those who disagree with the term "wonderful" may not have had to have 5 licenses in the 5 towns they worked in with arbitrary fees and requirements such as a VD test, fingerprinting, extra passport pics of you for the Vice Squad files along with many other sordid and ridiculous things--but I digress and that's a different topic for a different blog post. In our licensing, "bodywork" was excluded from licensure of the various factions of bodyworkers own volition. One of the business "investigated" by the police were actually practicing Asian bodywork legally, and did not require a Mass. license. This being the press, much ballyhoo went into playing up the possibility of a sordid business happening vs. the therapeutic work that was more likely.
I wrote a letter to the editor educting them that the term "massage parlor" and "masseuse" was outdated and degrading to the many gifted practitioners in our chosen field. I also spoke of the above legislation, and that the bodyworkers were correct in not needing a license to practice. There's a backstory here which I will not go into, where the local Health Department extorted unnecessary fees from local MT's but again, a digression, although a player in the impetus of the investigation.
The writer of the article politely wrote back, professing ignorance of the correct term "massage therapist" and said that other businesses he knew of called themselves "parlors" He also said he was reluctant to use the word "office" thinking that meant desks and filecabinets, and was "studio" more appropriate. I answered in some cases that could be correct, but did a chiropractor, acupuncturist or dentist call their office a studio?
What do you think of these terms? What do you call your office, or place of business? Some of you may work in a "salon" or "spa" and these terms are absolutely appropriate. But my business is neither, and I call my business an office. It's actually in a collaborative healing center, which is also accurate and comfortable. Do you like to be called a "masseuse" ? What do you think of this term? If it comes from anyone other than someone who is French, I have a problem with it in that it has been used historyically to describe an escort or prostitute, or other in the sex industry or exchange. I told the editor I would weigh in nationally on this subject and I would really appreciate your professional opinon.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Crystal Dawn Suovanen on
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Thank you for responding to the writer of the article. I know a lot of people who leave informing the public up to someone else instead of being proactive.
We call our place of business a holistic center. (Wellspring Holistic Center)
Because we do a lot more than massage, but we don't do spa services like hair and nails.
Holistic Center works great. :)
I do not like being referred to as a masseuse or our center as a parlor. Because those words are synonymous with something completely different. Something we don't do.
I know to someone who isn't a MT must think we're nitpicking. Like calling a server a waiter, or a flight attendant a stewardess.
But servers and flight attendants don't have their other name remind people of "happy ending".
It's offensive. The public must be informed! All my friends and family know that masseuse and parlor are NOT the correct terms and do not use them. (At least when I'm around.) Some of my older clients refer to me as their "masseuse", but I know it's harmless from them and don't like to correct my elders. I always inform my younger clients, though. They need to know so they can pass it on.
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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
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Lord help us all! I refer to my place as a clinic or wellness center, because we also offer chiropractic, acupuncture, and aesthetics.
I have found that elderly people sometimes use the terms "masseuse" and "massage parlor", just because that was the accepted terminology in their day. In fact, it happened in my office recently that a lady in her 90's called her ride after her session, and totally without malice said, "Come and get me. I'm done at the massage parlor." I normally would have jumped all over that, but I decided at her age there wasn't much point in trying to change her mindset!
A couple of years ago, one of my former students signed up to speak at a town council meeting because of outdated local laws and perceptions, and she printed out copies of our practice act and licensure laws for every member of the council. She got up and educated them all about massage. And reporters are usually present at those meetings; it actually made the news.
I think you're going to have to educate those people. Maybe printing out some of the information from the professional associations as well as your practice act, code of ethics, continuing education requirements etc, would help the cause.
You ought to tell the moron that you actually have a file cabinet and a desk, while you're at it.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Santoro on
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Laura, the last sentence made me laugh out loud. The writer asked if I would participate in a published Q&A about my work which will be printed sometime in the next year or so. I will gather people's opinions here and mention people's thoughts. Can I quote you?
Laura Allen said:Lord help us all! I refer to my place as a clinic or wellness center, because we also offer chiropractic, acupuncture, and aesthetics.
I have found that elderly people sometimes use the terms "masseuse" and "massage parlor", just because that was the accepted terminology in their day. In fact, it happened in my office recently that a lady in her 90's called her ride after her session, and totally without malice said, "Come and get me. I'm done at the massage parlor." I normally would have jumped all over that, but I decided at her age there wasn't much point in trying to change her mindset!
A couple of years ago, one of my former students signed up to speak at a town council meeting because of outdated local laws and perceptions, and she printed out copies of our practice act and licensure laws for every member of the council. She got up and educated them all about massage. And reporters are usually present at those meetings; it actually made the news.
I think you're going to have to educate those people. Maybe printing out some of the information from the professional associations as well as your practice act, code of ethics, continuing education requirements etc, would help the cause.
You ought to tell the moron that you actually have a file cabinet and a desk, while you're at it.
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Feel free!
Lisa Santoro said:Laura, the last sentence made me laugh out loud. The writer asked if I would participate in a published Q&A about my work which will be printed sometime in the next year or so. I will gather people's opinions here and mention people's thoughts. Can I quote you?
Laura Allen said:Lord help us all! I refer to my place as a clinic or wellness center, because we also offer chiropractic, acupuncture, and aesthetics.
I have found that elderly people sometimes use the terms "masseuse" and "massage parlor", just because that was the accepted terminology in their day. In fact, it happened in my office recently that a lady in her 90's called her ride after her session, and totally without malice said, "Come and get me. I'm done at the massage parlor." I normally would have jumped all over that, but I decided at her age there wasn't much point in trying to change her mindset!
A couple of years ago, one of my former students signed up to speak at a town council meeting because of outdated local laws and perceptions, and she printed out copies of our practice act and licensure laws for every member of the council. She got up and educated them all about massage. And reporters are usually present at those meetings; it actually made the news.
I think you're going to have to educate those people. Maybe printing out some of the information from the professional associations as well as your practice act, code of ethics, continuing education requirements etc, would help the cause.
You ought to tell the moron that you actually have a file cabinet and a desk, while you're at it.
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Permalink Reply by Penne Phifer on
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I have my business inside a beauty salon in a small town, Occasionally, my landlord (salon owner) will refer me as her "masseuse" when trying to promote my business to one of her clients while to she's working on their hair. I have explained the importance of saying "massage therapist" and she does alot better now. When this does happen, I reintroduce myself as "Hi, I'm the massage therapist". This works for me and my friend (salon owner). No embarassment.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on
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i work out of my home currently...so i usually find myself referring to it as both...either my home office or my home studio. i also don't like the term "masseuse" but i don't get too offended. i feel it's a name from the past and most people i have dealt with use it because that's what they were taught versus using it because they are intending on the stereotype. sometimes i will correct them with the "new" term, sometimes not. for me it's not so much the "title" but the intention behind it, and that you can definitely read into when the person uses it.
on a side note...it makes me mad as hell that any one of us any where should be subjected to VD tests, fingerprinting, extra passport pics of you for the Vice Squad files, etc. It's those states where we should be the most vocal!!! Where is the Federation of blah blah blah in those states? Seems to me before we start changing (or even discussing) how states that already have licensure do business, we should be more focused on the states that carry on as stated above!!
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We did win state licensure, so NONE of this is done anymore. It took us 11 years to do so in Massachusetts, and it was a long and uphill battle, but we did it! I will never forget having to face a health board in Waltham, MA and being asked to prove my moral, upstanding character. It was a humiliating and yet later, an empowering experience. Answer? "I mean no disrespect, but can you prove yours to me? This meeting is as much about whether I want to bring my excellent business to your town and subject my patients to this kind of scrutiny."
Lisa said:i work out of my home currently...so i usually find myself referring to it as both...either my home office or my home studio. i also don't like the term "masseuse" but i don't get too offended. i feel it's a name from the past and most people i have dealt with use it because that's what they were taught versus using it because they are intending on the stereotype. sometimes i will correct them with the "new" term, sometimes not. for me it's not so much the "title" but the intention behind it, and that you can definitely read into when the person uses it.
on a side note...it makes me mad as hell that any one of us any where should be subjected to VD tests, fingerprinting, extra passport pics of you for the Vice Squad files, etc. It's those states where we should be the most vocal!!! Where is the Federation of blah blah blah in those states? Seems to me before we start changing (or even discussing) how states that already have licensure do business, we should be more focused on the states that carry on as stated above!!
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Lisa, I don't know if you were just using "Federation" in a general sense or referring to the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, but that is exactly the kind of thing the FSMTB is working on. So far more than 30 states plus DC and PR have joined the Federation, and I am NC's delegate. The Federation doesn't do much of anything "by itself", so to speak; it IS the member boards. That was a big topic of discussion at our annual meeting a couple of months ago.
The AMTA and ABMP both have government relations specialists that really don't do anything else except to try and improve the image of massage through working with state boards and lobbying for good legislation. If there is still a problem with that kind of thing going on in your state, I'd suggest contacting your state AMTA chapter and seeing what they're doing about it. A lot of times they are unaware of ridiculous laws that may just be local, until someone brings it to their attention. That has happened here in NC, and they have intervened with good results.
Lisa said:i work out of my home currently...so i usually find myself referring to it as both...either my home office or my home studio. i also don't like the term "masseuse" but i don't get too offended. i feel it's a name from the past and most people i have dealt with use it because that's what they were taught versus using it because they are intending on the stereotype. sometimes i will correct them with the "new" term, sometimes not. for me it's not so much the "title" but the intention behind it, and that you can definitely read into when the person uses it.
on a side note...it makes me mad as hell that any one of us any where should be subjected to VD tests, fingerprinting, extra passport pics of you for the Vice Squad files, etc. It's those states where we should be the most vocal!!! Where is the Federation of blah blah blah in those states? Seems to me before we start changing (or even discussing) how states that already have licensure do business, we should be more focused on the states that carry on as stated above!!
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thanks Laura...i was talking about the FSMTB. i hope they make it a priority to rid states of the degrading process an MT has to go through to become an MT.
Luckily CT and TX have not had these issues.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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I call my business an office or massage clinic. I hate being called a masseuse. There are many educated people that just don't know the difference really.
I think the word masseuse is now more a term to describe those 'illegal' types of massage establishments and should be not used to describe a professionally licensed massage therapist. One thing also is that in most state licensing rules they still have the word masseuse used to designate a massage therapist. I would start with getting it taken out of the licensing if it is there.
Julie
www.thebodyworker.com
www.massage-career-guides.com
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Permalink Reply by Christopher A. Moyer on
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These are all good observations and I can't disagree with any of them. I will add my observation that many people who ought to know better do not know better. I routinely encounter people who innocently refer to massage therapists as masseuses. It is also curious that they rarely understand the gender of the term they are using - they will refer to male massage therapists as masseuses (when it would be more correct, at least linguistically, to call them masseurs).
Getting people to understand the difference between masseuse/masseur and massage therapist, and breaking the association that "massage" has as a cover term for illicit activities, may be some of the biggest challenges faced by the profession.
-CM
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Permalink Reply by Jorge Arnaldo Pabón Acevedo on
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Wow I'm in Shock. Here in Puerto Rico, the 254 Law Said, Our profesion name is Massage Therapist, because we are part of the Health Campus, we are not Massagist, or Masseurs of nothing about that kind of names, because a "Masseur" for example, is the person who give a happily end (sex) to the massage.
I think some Massage Therapist need to write to the Newspaper and express them feeling.
The expretion he gave about our career is wrong.
About the "studio", you can call a studio at a photografer place to work, or a film room, but we work at clinic, office or centers, but I don't think we call it "studio", that not professional.
Take care everyone.
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