Are You a Lady? ?

Wouldn't bother me particularly. Think woman is my preference.

I don't mind at all being called a lady. I don't swear in public, get drunk or show my knickers off and never spit. Other criteria must be available.

OTOH my late MIL made a right song and dance about being called a lady, preferring to be called a girl despite surviving to her mid-nineties.

Ha I have never been a lady. I have done most of what lovebeige has described, except the spitting.

Woman is my preference but would prefer lady to girl, it makes me cringe when older women call themselves girls.

I really dont mind just as long as someone speak to me and isnt rude.

Unquestionably.

Galaxy

Ha I have never been a lady. I have done most of what lovebeige has described, except the spitting.

Me too!
I still think that I’m a lady though (well, actually I think that I’m a perpetual 11 year old girl, but that’s another thread)

Kim19

Wouldn't bother me particularly. Think woman is my preference.

Another ‘Me too’

But you can’t really say / type ‘what do you women think?’
And it’s not a sexist thing,
because like wise you wouldn’t say ‘what do you men think?’

Or would you?
I’ve always struggled with plurals for people. I hate guys, and find folk the best available word

Absolutely not. It is riddled with socially divisive woman who is class association, entitlement and privilege c/f these dictionary definitions (OED):

The female head of a household; a woman who has authority over servants, attendants, or slaves.

A woman who rules over subjects, a queen; a woman to whom obedience or feudal homage is due.

Used when speaking of or to a woman who is of high rank, esp. a member of the nobility.

Prefixed to a title of honour or designation of office as an added mark of respect. Now only in fixed collocations e.g. Lady Mayor.

A woman having the characteristics traditionally associated with high social standing; a refined or genteel woman.

OakDryad that’s why I suggested its ‘reclamation’

No lady sounds too old. I rather be called a girl, (and I call my friend girls too) not offensive to me at all! I’m with lovebeige’s MIL here. Sorry to make you cringe Elizabeth!

I don't like being called a woman. It has negative connotations to my mind. Don't mind lady as it's more respectful , but would much prefer to be a girl or a guy!

I'm a woman. Lady has connotations of certain behaviours and that in all of my long life, I've only met one or two real gentlemen, based on their behaviour, don't see why I should be held to a higher code.

Elizabeth27

Woman is my preference but would prefer lady to girl, it makes me cringe when older women call themselves girls.

Exactly this.

'Lady' sounds ok(ish) to me when it comes from a small child, but that may well be a throwback to my own childhood. Otherwise, I prefer 'woman', and never 'girl' for anyone over 21 or so.

I don't mind 'Ladies and Gentlemen', although I'm now struggling to think of when I'm likely to hear that nowadays, as I don't hear many public speeches . Addressing a room as 'Men and Women' would sound a bit odd, though.

I wouldn’t like to hear my hairdresser say to her Junior
“ would you shampoo my woman, please”. Lady is fine.
Sadly I am no longer a girl,

I don't mind what people call me as long as it's said in a friendly and pleasant way.

Elizabeth27

Woman is my preference but would prefer lady to girl, it makes me cringe when older women call themselves girls.

I'm with you on this too!
Girls is a definite no!

Why do adult women want to be called girls? I just don't understand it. It's not one of those things I can understand but don't agree with, it just makes no sense to me.

This is an interesting exercise:

For each of the example sentences below, you have to decide whether to fill the blank with ‘woman/women’ or ‘lady/ladies’.

1. She was a perfect ——— about it.

2. The church flowers were arranged by the ——— of the congregation.

3. Esther thought of her grandmother as a strong and capable ———.

4. Some ——— reported that they experienced multiple orgasms.

5. In Victorian times, it was common for ———to die in childbirth.

6. A ———was raped in the city centre last night.

If you found yourself making an an intuitive preference can you explain why?

My preference is woman. Simple. None of that ugly “cis” malarkey in front of it either.

I’m a woman, but I’m not offended by being referred to as a lady, or a guy for that matter.

Doodledog

Why do adult women want to be called girls? I just don't understand it. It's not one of those things I can understand but don't agree with, it just makes no sense to me.

I can’t help but think that it’s an avoidance of the word women.

‘Prosecco with the girls’

Blossoming

I’m a woman, but I’m not offended by being referred to as a lady, or a guy for that matter.

I think that I dislike the word ‘guys’ so much as it’s heard so much in schools (by teachers to kids)
It’s especially loathsome when used with primary children.
It used to drive me potty, actually!

Always reminds me of Little Britain ‘I’m a lady..’