Legitimate massage therapy businesses shouldn't display this sign.

“You do massage therapy? Do you like being a masseuse?”

Well, I wouldn’t really know what it’s like to be a masseuse because I’m a licensed massage therapist (L.M.T.) in the state of Arizona. Unfortunately, that statement almost makes me sound like I add the fancy acronym to all of my magazine subscriptions as if I were a doctor. I’m not really that uptight, but I do have a legitimate reason to squirm away from the “masseuse” title.

The word “masseuse” originated in French to describe a female who gives massages and “masseur” describes a male who gives massages. “Masseuse” describes me, right?

Yes and no.

A licensed massage therapist can always be considered a masseuse/masseur but a masseuse/masseur isn’t always a licensed massage therapist. Now that massage therapy has started to become regulated in this country, most states won’t allow unlicensed individuals to charge for massage. People who aren’t licensed, certified, registered, etc. in their states do give massages on the sly, but they can’t profess that they meet state or city requirements.

Some masseuses/masseurs may be self-taught experts of anatomy and physiology. They may be better at my job than I am. (I suppose they can call themselves massage therapists as long as they don’t purport to be licensed.) Others just hand out business cards that say, “I’ll rub you the right way,” and, “Feeling knotty?” They will give you a back rub. Some masseuses/masseurs may work out of their homes, others may do outcalls, but many of them work at massage parlors, where the clientele expect a little more than a massage.

The terms “masseuse” and “masseur” were used on a regular basis in the United States for so long that it is still normal for anyone to use them interchangeably with “certified massage therapist,” “licensed massage therapist,” or “registered massage therapist.” But, as one who went through the 750 hours of schooling to obtain a license, I’d prefer not to be linked to a name which indicates that I may wear stilettos and a tube top on the job.

So, if someone ever calls me a masseuse, I don’t get huffy and say, “I can’t believe you just called me that!” I might, however, offer a gentle nudge in a more affirmative direction by nodding and saying, “Yes, I am a licensed massage therapist.”