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I think, the use of "Frau" for every woman came along with the women's movement in the 1970s, just as the use of male and female forms in addressing large groups ("Liebe Wählerinnen und Wähler" etc.). Unfortunately, there was no "spontaneous feeling among the public" to treat men and women equally, so I presume there was pressure from the women's lib. Today it's considered a question of "politcal correctness" - which came from America, I think.