do you call adult females girls?

[maxterpiece]

Just got into an argument over whether it is okay to call an adult female a girl or not. I argued that the word girl in that context is more like an equivalent of guy for guys and that it actually has gained popularity because it is both colloquial and not overly feminine. It's use because its the only word that feels like a nonsexual, simple way to talk about a, well a girl that i know.

what ya'll think?

 

[Lacero]

They like to be called '"ma'ams"

 

[eva01]

i call some of my female friends girls, and they are aged between 17 - 29

 

[vniow]

I'm not a girl, I'm a chick.

They like to be called '"ma'ams"

Only when I'm being looked at from below.

 

[skunk]

They're always girls until the day they die.

 

[devilot]

I'm guilty of also calling women 'girls' but I know many women who are offended by those of us using the term.

 

[maxterpiece]

I'm not a girl, I'm a chick.

when i hear chick i think of a bunch of macho *******s objectifying women. SOmething like this snippet that i overheard last night at a bar:
"that chick is hot dude!"
"Yeah man. I'd throw it in her."

 

[skunk]

"that chick is hot dude!"
"Yeah man. I'd throw it in her."

What on earth were they talking about?

 

[edesignuk]

SOmething like this snippet that i overheard last night at a bar:
"that chick is hot dude!"
"Yeah man. I'd throw it in her."

Couple of real smooth operators there

 

[wordmunger]

No. They're "women" once they hit 18. Some are women much sooner.

 

[dcv]

I certainly don't mind being called a girl.... makes me feel younger

Ma'am... umm definitely NOT. Ever. Not unless you want to seriously offend someone.

Chick/Baby/Babe... please don't call me those. ever.
(only exception to the rule would be "oooh she's a hot babe"... but sadly i don't hear that very often... *sniff*)

I am a bird!! Some women might find the term 'bird' offensive but i'm a 'bird', all my friends are 'birds' (not the male ones obviously... gets confusing at times) and i'm a lil bit cheeky and think it's a great term

 

[Kobushi]

No. They're "women" once they hit 18. Some are women much sooner.

I dunno, I have a hard time calling some 18-year-olds "women". I say this based purely on a maturity metric.

 

[stoid]

boo boo kitty ****?

 

[ecche]

only when I know that they would call my male friends and me 'the boys'

 

[w_parietti22]

I think they prefer girls instead of gals!

 

[Sun Baked]

They'd probably complain less if you call them girls, than if you call them what you'd call their mothers/grandmothers.

Don't want to make them feel too old...

 

[adroit]

I certainly don't mind being called a girl.... makes me feel younger

Ma'am... umm definitely NOT. Ever. Not unless you want to seriously offend someone.

Chick/Baby/Babe... please don't call me those. ever.
(only exception to the rule would be "oooh she's a hot babe"... but sadly i don't hear that very often... *sniff*)

I am a bird!! Some women might find the term 'bird' offensive but i'm a 'bird', all my friends are 'birds' (not the male ones obviously... gets confusing at times) and i'm a lil bit cheeky and think it's a great term

agreed. agreed. agreed.

Don't know about the "bird" though

 

[Jaffa Cake]

It would depend who the 'girl' was and my relationship to her. If it's a friend, then there's no problem – equally so if they refer to me as a boy. On the other hand, I wouldn't call a woman I didn't know a 'girl', at least not to her face.

But hey, that's just me.

 

[w_parietti22]

If you come up to a group of women that you know well which would you say:

"Hey women."

"Hey ladies."

"Hey girls."

 

[greatdevourer]

I certainly don't mind being called a girl.... makes me feel younger

That's the general feel I get from most gals

"Hey ladies."

Hmm... except you wouldn't generally use that during the day

 

[w_parietti22]

That's the general feel I get from most gals

gals???

 

[macartistkel]

I ALWAYS say "HEY GIRLS" to all my girlfriends younger or older than me (i'm 29) !!! Or when I am leaving a voice mail for my a friend I ALWAYS start out saying "HEY GIRL, what's up, its Kelly!!" How in the world could that be offensive to someone?

 

[greatdevourer]

gals???

Yeah It's all part of the accent

 

[w_parietti22]

I am a bird!! Some women might find the term 'bird' offensive but i'm a 'bird', all my friends are 'birds' (not the male ones obviously... gets confusing at times) and i'm a lil bit cheeky and think it's a great term

Hey Bird

 

[Eluon]

I certainly don't mind being called a girl.... makes me feel younger

Ma'am... umm definitely NOT. Ever. Not unless you want to seriously offend someone.

Chick/Baby/Babe... please don't call me those. ever.
(only exception to the rule would be "oooh she's a hot babe"... but sadly i don't hear that very often... *sniff*)

I am a bird!! Some women might find the term 'bird' offensive but i'm a 'bird', all my friends are 'birds' (not the male ones obviously... gets confusing at times) and i'm a lil bit cheeky and think it's a great term

I agree except in the South, we are taught that Sir and Ma'am are signs of respect. I will always call men and women over say 30 sir and ma'am. I don't find it offensive and neither do they. Ma'am doesn't offend many people.