When they call her 'ma'?
Why is it a sign of respect? And what is its root?
shareIt has several slang usages--some of them friendly and some sexual--but in the movie, "ma" is an endearing term for a woman of good and respectable character. "Ma" comes from the family unit where a mother is called "mami", just like "brother" translates to "bro" between male friends who consider each other family.
shareI didn't like it when she snapped at them to not call her that 'cause she wasn't their mother. To many of them, she was probably the closest thing they had to a mother or a parent, so it must've stung to hear her say that.
My 8th grade science teacher was young, blonde, beautiful, fun, and beloved by everyone. I didn't go to an inner city school; in fact, I grew up in a predominantly white sleepy town, but nevertheless she really seemed genuinely concerned for our grades and overall well-being. At the end of the school year, one of the shy kids went up to her (after most everyone had already left) and gave her a single rose and told her she was the closest thing he'd had to a mother. She didn't tell him she wasn't his mother but instead took the Rose and hugged him. She also had tears in her eyes. She was definitely moved, and I think Mrs. G should've acted likewise.
.
I think she was just more angry with herself and didn't want to limit them. She wanted them to be able to go out into that big bad world with their heads held high with all the things she taught them because the bigger picture was that it had nothing to do with what she did but what they did for themselves and to better themselves for their own persons and not just her.
shareJust watched this on Netflix.
My impression is that she snaps because she is hurt about her husband leaving her. He complained about her devotion to the kids and she had to ponder that to some degree after he left. She seemed more defensive like she wanted to establish boundaries versus offend the students. Granted, it was hasty and unnecessary; however, it wasn't personal or malicious.