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

Really sorry but what does AIBU stand for?

A man I was with referred to TV newsreaders and said, "They're nearly all girls now". I objected and told him they are women not girls. He doesn't like the word "women", they must be called girls or ladies. He is patronising, there's no other word for it.

Honestly some people on this forum must get up especially early to get as much annoyed as possible into the day. The things people object too! Sounds like grumpy old women to me.

The word 'chap' is simply not a term I've ever been familiar with. I'm not objecting to it, it just seems rather an olden-day word.

I don't personally mind being referred to as a 'girl' but what annoys me is when I get letters referring to me as Ms. My marital status is no business of anyone else's but mine. My thoughts are if you don't know don't put anything!

Someone further back did mention 'madam', but it was included in the list of names she didn't mind at all being called

Mesdames?
or they could be mesdemoiselles
Who knows?
The OP doesn't say

As someone said,we are all different,so it's impossible to win isn't it,your bound to upset somebody.
I say to hell with it,as long as you know in your heart of hearts you meant no offence,and you know you are being polite if a person wants to be offended that's their problem,sad little things.

One of my secret wishes was to be a ' Madam ' naughty I know but such fun ! !

Has anyone suggested using the term "madam"? If they haven't it might be because, like me, they'd been called a "proper little madam" when they were a child. And I have to admit that I frequently was a "proper little madam"!

Dude is good too.

I love the word chap. There's a chippiness (beef fat fried, natch) about it and, like guys nowadays, one can use it of chappesses as well.

And there's chapping in dominoes
and chapping on doors,
chapped lips (not good)
or knees! believe it or not
in my first year at uni
cos my 'duffer' coat wasn't long enough
and Dundee's a darn sight chillier
than the Fylde.

I agree about 'chap' Maggie.

Yes, it's all about the context isn't it? It seems to me that in this case the man thought he was being friendly and that's all.

Well, if "ladies" sounds like something from the 50s, what on earth is "chap" about? Where I come from, people are still sometimes addressed as pet. In some languages, you'd just be addressed as auntie or grandma. Frankly, if someone's being friendly and not meaning to offend, I couldn't care less.

I dislike being labelled elderly too kitty, 60 is young for that. Seems like we all have different levels of tolerance.

I prefer 'girls' to 'ladies' but the gentleman (is that patronising?) in question should be advised in future to stick to gender-neutral greeting - 'Hello everyone', for example. I once had a boyfriend (long long ago) who called me 'babe', which I loathed but made allowances for his being American.

Haha- called a girl's fine, but I hate reading in the newspaper: "elderly 60 year old pensioner...." why does paper need to use the word elderly?

Speaking to a senior at work I used the term "new boy" of a new colleague. Was asked not to call him that by senior. As a group of receptionists we were called "the girls". Two sets of rules??

We are all different, and therefore have different feelings. Sometimes, however, it might be best to just let it go over your head.

Makes my blood boil too! The doctor at work will say ' the girls will do it for you' meaning the group of mature nurses, with years of experience between us. How belittling. Call us what we are - nurses, family, ladies! Anything but girls!

I think I have just managed to read most of this thread and I am more offended by the women who think they can tell me that the way I think is wrong. How dare they.

Sorry, Lewlew, missed the OP's second post.

forgot

ps I foregot to say he gave me a hug as he said 'stout girl'

did that make it better?