I still get irritated by this - AIBU to hate being referred to as a 'girl'...

It doesn't bother me. Same with expressions like 'hun', 'chick' and 'sweetie' from my local checkout operators.

I don't feel less of an adult, nor do I feel patronised. But we aren't all the same!

It doesn't bother me at all. I don't feel infanticised and I would feel that was the aim of anyone who said it.

Poor chaps can't win - it's unacceptable to call us ladies and women is plain horrid.

When I walk with my girlfriends we call it our girls walking group. Long may we be girls I say! We are all about 60.

I'm quite happy to be a 70 year old girl A friend of mine once had a customer complain because she called him "Young man" we just thought he was a miserable old bugger.

When my DH and BIL have been out together, my sister or myself will often say 'that sounds like the boys are back'
However they will say 'hello dears' to both of us.

I like it better than the (to my mind) patronising "ladies" or (worse still) "guys".
But hey, "who cares what they call me, as long as they call me"
(Mae West?)

I don't mind it. When I say to my DH 'I'm going out with the girls' he always says 'it's a long time since any of you lot have been girls' cheek.

I'm sorry but I laughed Carol , I can honestly say I have never felt infantised by being called 'a girl' , in fact I positively welcome it ! I call my daughters the girls , and their husbands the boys - not only do they not mind but I'm 100% positive they don't feel less of an adult or of a lower status.

In my opinion , it's not what you're called but how you act that defines you.

I feel for your 'very nice chap' ... was he supposed to say ,'Hello Women'?

Yes I agree with N&G. I am quite happy to be called a girl, in fact it makes me feel cheerful.

I've no problem with being called a girl, I guess we all have different expectations. Maybe the gentleman in question will keep himself to himself after being rebuked he probably was just feeling friendly.

Doesn't bother me at all.

Reminds me of when people used to say " I' m doing such and such, or going somewhere or other, I need to find myself".

No problem, I know where I am. Here!

I was pulled up on here once for saying girls so your not alone,
It certainly wouldn't bother me,why should it,we say it all the time,i.e.,come on girls,let's get going,,that sort of thing.Like I'll say to my GC,come on kids,best foot forward,it's just words,nothing awful meant,get a grip,

It doesn't bother me. I think 'girls' is used as a generic term for females. Hi, girls sounds friendlier to me than Hi, females, Hi, women. I suppose Hi, you two! would have worked.

It's just social awkwardness. Let it go

That said, my DD1 would probably object to Hello, ladies unless he was also greeting men with Hello, gentlemen.

I'm guessing you would not like living in Malta where older ladies are referred to as 'Mrs'! I was a bit shocked the first time I realised a 'Hey, Mrs' was aimed at me, but it is just the direct translation from the Maltese 'sinjura' which refers to a married or older woman.

Being referred to as a girl or a lady would not bother me one iota. I'm not easily offended and try not to 'sweat the small stuff' as my daughter would say. Life is far too short.

I pointed out that at almost 65 I am NOT a girl. I am a woman.

How churlish of you.

Don't be surprised if he gives you a wide berth in future.

Well you won't have a nice young man coming to talk to you again, will you.
Get over yourself and lighten up a bit.

Does this poster remind anyone of the ' Young at heart' thread?
Probably started life at 50 this one.

Would not bother me in the slightest.

I'm sorry but any man who chooses to refer to a group of women as "girls" is patronising them. If you don't recognise this that's fine, but don't castigate someone who has more social awareness than you have and who recognises that language and the way words are used is important. Call yourself and your friends 'girls' if you choose, you are only fooling yourselves, but try to see the wider picture and have a little more respect for the OP who not only recognised what was happening but was brave enough to speak up about it.
Well done Carolghill You have a long history of outspoken women behind you applauding and congratulating you. Pity there aren't more such women on this thread.

Haha! What a silly rant trisher the OP asked what we all thought after all.

'You are only fooling yourselves' - really? Do you imagine we all think of ourselves as youngsters and not actually 60 and 70 odd years of age? How sad for you...

Oh dear - well I still have 'girls nights out' with ladies of an average age of 60+ and my sons, both in their 40s will always be referred to as 'the boys' .