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

Trisher I'm with you all the way on this (and had a long discussion with my DD's DP just last week on a similar theme)
I'm old enough to remember some of the 'joys' of being a 'girl' - such as not being able to take out a mortgage in my own name without a male guarantor, being told that my DH would need to sign the HP agreement for our first washing machine as they couldn't accept a woman's signature, being paid half what my male co-workers were etc etc.
We fought and won numerous rights for women - including the one to call yourself what you want - but this all seems to have been forgotten, even by the generation who lived through it.
I'm an adult woman - and I object to being infantalised and spoken to in a demeaning manner.
OP, I would have responded exactly as you did - good for you..!

If you 'choose' to be insulted' by the way somebody refers to you then you will be insulted won't you??
I live in Scotland and there are many colloquial terms of endearment that by the sounds of it would offend many of you!
Unless someone is being directly and purposefully insulting or demeaning about me because of my gender, race, or body type I refuse to be offended.
Life's to short!

Trisher I feel so sad for you....... I would simply have responded with 'gee thanks' or something similarly light.

My pet hate is being called "young lady" by young men. They think they're being cute but it's annoying to say it to a 64 year old.

That is the basic definition NanaandGrampy but I think the origins of the word are more interesting given its wider use now. I don't suppose "immature. worthless or past their prime" are roots anyone using the word would know about or aspire to. Isn't language fascinating?

jacqknife - I so agree!!!!

Well I am glad something has come out of this discussion if only an awareness of how language has evolved down the centuries.
But how those who take umbrage at an inoffensive term would have coped 50, 100 years ago or more with more aggressive sexual or racial discrimination I cannot imagine, and as for racial or religious persecution....?
They must have been made of tougher stuff in those days
#notsayingflakeybut

I don't mind 'hun, love, ducks, hen' or other affectionate terms. I just hate 'girl' though - for reasons already given.

And yes Trisha, language is fascinating ...

And thanks Suedoko - this is where I am coming from...

I'm not religious,but aren't you supposed to turn the other cheek or something,at the very least show a bit of charity,you admit he spoke in innocence.
So much for church goers.

Can I respectfully ask of the feminist posters who object to the use of the word girl a question.

How do you feel if you were in say Lancashire and you were called a 'lassie' or Somerset and called 'little un' etc. Would you feel you were being infantalised by somebody using local colloquialisms?

I am reminded of the word 'hinny' . I'm sure somebody somewhere would find a friendly Geordie who called them 'hinny' would say don't call me that I'm not a donkey.

I am not a 'duck' but have been called one on many occasions.
As DM used to call me 'chick' at least 'duck' sounds more grown-up

You say he was a nice man, so he was only being friendly. You embarrassed him, so he'll avoid you in future. I think political correctness has gone mad. Also, someone said they had to get their husband's signature in the past. I was widowed at a young age in the sixties and never had any trouble with hire-purchase agreements etc., so when was this?

Pogs I like 'hinny', I always thought it meant 'honey'?

Then there's 'wor lass' which husband calls me sometimes.

"Hinny" is used for both sexes POGS as is "man" in Geordie, so no objections to either, it is of course dialect and nothing to do with donkeys. If one doesn't understand that one would be quite entitled to ask what was meant I suppose.
I actually know very few Lancastrians who now use the term "Lassie" as it is generally associated with the dog of film fame.
Is that an acceptable feminist answer to your question?

The poor man probably calls you all sorts under his breath.

Marmark lol

I was divorced in the 80's Conni7 and I can tell you it was bloody difficult to get your ex husband's name taken off the mortgage even when he had signed over the property, wasn't living there and you were making the payments. Building societies just didn't like it.
If men can't be bothered to learn from their mistakes and not address women as they prefer perhaps they are best to avoid them. Why should that bother the OP?

Marmark why is he 'a poor man'?

I refer to my pals as girls and we re mostly o. A. P. I don't take as derogitary, just a friendly thing, I call my pals guys too! I don't like being called doll, tho.

I fume every time the waitress at my favourite restraunt calls me "dear",makes me feel ancient.

Oh for goodness sake get over yourself! Should he say 'Hello Women"?

By the way i also divorced in 80's and no trouble at all with mortgage etc.we went about it in a civilised way. I do feel sorry for men these days, if you felt patronised you could have said jokingly 'Hello young man' or ' Hi laddie' or something like that I also feel that a lot of women are so blooming quick to take offence.

Wow! This has hit a nerve, hasn't it?
I have the opposite problem - DH insists on calling any bloke, especially if they are over 70, "lads" and "boys"! How old does one have to be to qualify as wo/man?