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

I deplore the infantilisation of anyone by the use of such language. It is some strange attempt to be young and not an adult with responsibilities and concerns. You may think it doesn't matter but it is symptomatic of a society where age and experience are devalued. As I said you can be as disinterested as you like but don't criticise others who have more insight.

More social awareness Trisher?

As my girls might say...get over yourself

Oh and we do know that we are not 'girls' and I do know that my sons are not 'boys' - really not anything that I could get overexcited about

Doesn't bother me.
Dh's old aunt of well over 80 would still refer to her bridge-playing pals of much the same age as 'the girls'.

At least it's better than how my FiL once referred to some of Mil's friends - on coming home he asked me whether 'the hags' were still there. ?

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' .

'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...

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

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.

Would not bother me in the slightest.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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,

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'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.

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

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'?

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 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?)

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'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.