I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view

I call myself massage therapist when people ask what I do for a living. I do not mind being called masseur, because although it originated in the French language, it is an English word now, too. I do correct people with humor when they say masseuse, though.

My diplomas and certificates all say Massage Therapist on them, so that is what I call my profession, but I do not take offense as the word masseur. I do correct people when they inject sexual innuendo into what I do, but even this is done with kindness.

I understand why (mostly women) take offense at masseuse, as it does bring up the seedy history of massage in the United States to many, but if we act with compassion, kindness, and a liberal dose of humor, we can re-claim that word from its sexual overtone.

It’s only a word. More important is how we behave.

[reply to this comment]

Hi Bob,

I call myself a massage therapist since that is what I was trained to call myself through schooling. I have been called a masseuse by several people, but for the most part I’m not offended. In general, from my experience, people are just asking questions or making general comments. In any conversation, I just call myself a massage therapist. People usually pick it up and correct themselves or ask me why I don’t use the word massuese. When asked I let them know it’s not offensive to me, but it tends to carry a negative connotation. (Which, BTW, I have not really personally experienced; it’s something I was “taught” in school.)

I get more offended by friends who, dispite my title and professional demeanor, make sexual remarks and comments to me or others in my presence about the my line of work.

[reply to this comment]

M. Viesselman reply on April 4, 2008:

I assume, since you are a “masseur” that you are not a Certified and Licensed Massage Therapist, If you are a CMT and/or a LMT then you are legally, ethically, and logically, miss identifying yourself, which is a breach of professional ethics. If you are not…go for it. In this country the title you have choosen denotes a lack of credentialling and education…as well as the other less savory conotations.

Your assumptions are totally incorrect. I am a fully licensed masseur and fully certified in a number of modalities. In my licensing state I am in no way legally, ethically, or logically misidentifying myself nor am I breaching any professional ethics (nor are the licensed masseuses I work with). It’s amazing how you feel qualified to speak for “this country” when in fact you are quite ignorant about the subject.

I’m happy to see other LMT’s in the State of Ohio that correct clients on the word “masseuse”. The term “masseuse” was hammered into mine and other students in school on the negative stereotypes that were afflicted with “masseuse”. Also, why lower my credentials from having a Medical License to “nothing”?

I’ve also had many clients tell me that massage school couldn’t be that hard. I tell them that I’ve spent 5 semesters learning Anatomy and Physiology for massage, versus the 1 semester at KSU for Nursing. I also let all my clients know that in order for us to call it “massage therapy” or as a “massage therapist”, that we have to be licensed by the OMB (Ohio State Medical Board).

[reply to this comment]

No one can offend us without our cooperation. To often we look to the external for justification or compelement when it is only our reflexion of our inner selves. When we find something offends us, we need to look internally to see why. Yes there are offensive things out there, but we take on way more than we need to and it is reflected in our lives and our happiness.

[reply to this comment]

My license indicates that I am a Massage Therapist, and yes…I too correct (gently) the term masseuse. That may a term the French use, but I live in the US and I am licensed and also a massage therapist. Therefore, I take offense to anything else.

I agree with you on the licensing thing… first off a license is just a tax anyway… they don’t make people honest or give them integrity or make them better at what they do in anyway… they aren’t a gauge of success either. They are simply a tax on our ability to make a living… that is obviously another topic altogether…

But clearly, when it comes to the name thing… I disagree. I do therapy as do many of the other people that have posted here. Anyone can give a decent ‘fluff and buff’ or give me a rub down… but that’s not therapy. It may have therapeutic effects, but still not therapy… (simply talking and listening can have therapeutic effects, but that doesn’t make me a psychotherapist). So for those that ONLY want to be a masseuse or masseur, all the more power to you. But those of us who have taken upon ourselves the next step and believe ourselves to be true healing professionals, we choose to call ourselves Massage Therapists… and no, we don’t have to use the term ‘licensed’ either… “Just I am a massage therapist and here’s why….”

I find people often end up pointing out the difference to me before I even finish explaining it, they understand that it is great to feel good to treat themselves to a great massage. But massage is about a lifestyle choice, a chance to truly work with a person long term to help them grow and achieve better health, that is what therapy is all about.

How can we ever expect the public to understand the difference and accept us as healing professionals, when we ourselves can’t even agree on what it means or what the differences really are…??

[reply to this comment]