to really, really not like being referred to as 'ladies'

[GetOrf]

As in some norman comes on here and says 'well, ladies, what do you think about xxx'

I hate it. I makes me feel like I am on my gran's darts league committee.

Ladies. Urgh.

I would rather someone said 'you lot' or 'you bunch of wankers'.

[RuthChan]

Really?
I call people 'ladies' because all anyone seems to say these days is 'guys'.
Saying 'ladies' is not suggesting anything, it's merely showing some respect.
Is it really so bad?

[Fimbo]

I could be worse, I could be "hey huns".

[Fimbo]

*it, it. Grrrrrrrrrrr

[PinotGrigiosKittens]

I used "wenches" the other day. Does that pass muster?

[Hammy02]

What would you prefer OP? Most people on here are women after all.

[MumblingRagDoll]

I hate it too....it makes men sound a bit pervy and over-keen.

[Gooftroop]

YABU. It tends to be said slightly ironically nowadays - like calling male people 'gentleman'.

[porpoisefull]

I feel 'Ladies' is patronising, but couldn't explain exactly why.

[GetOrf]

I don't think we need to be referred to as a collective term at all. We are all here reading, you don't need to say 'Ladies!' to garner your attention.

Iyswim.

Ladies is so twee. Call us women. Or you lot. Or oi. Ladies is just so antimacassars on the settee, tabards and feminine hygiene product.

[GetOrf]

Women who refer to themselves as ladies tend to be the type who carry their tampons in a little blue plastic case, and when changing one in a public loo flush the loo so nobody can overhear any rustling.

Twee.

[PinotGrigiosKittens]

[Binky55]

YABU way too over sensitive!

[TakeMeDrunkImHome]

YABU. Girls was deemed to be "offensive" and now Ladies is offensive

[Gooftroop]

What is it with all you ladies at mumsnet?

[skyebluepink]

I don't like it either - it feels belittling even though I realise that's not the intention. I think it's the sort of grouping us all together in one ladyish lump. I think gals is much better.

I also hate being referred to as a lady. Let the lady through etc. Makes me feel v old. Don't know what else you are supposed to say though.

On a slightly tangential note I hate being called Dude, mate and Madame.

[OurPlanetNeptune]

Ladies is respectful. Would rather I was referred to as a lady than anything else. Because that is exactly what I am. Recently a man tried to get my attention by calling out to me 'yo babygirl'. Seriously?

[whowherewhen]

Suggest a good alternative!!?

[Fimbo]

Ha ha Ourplanetneptune, was it Fatboy from EE?

[StealthPolarBear]

I cannot think of myself as a lady, and amsure I will still struggle in my 90s. Feel a fraud somehow

[PinotGrigiosKittens]

:)

[Melly20MummyToBe]

Ladettes :o

[GetOrf]

Takemedrunk - where did I say it was offensive? It is not offensive, it just sounds like a construct from the 1950s.

What's wrong with being referred to as women? That's what we are after all.

Ladies is a bit old fashioned at work as well. I belonmg to something called the Womens Engineering Society. I can't imagine that in a million years being called the Ladies Engineering Society. The only things which are referred to as Ladies nowadays are Ladies Golf Day (nuff said), Cheltenham Ladies College (ditto) and other archaic societies where ladies where skirts on the knee.

[GetOrf]

Ladies WEAR.

dear god

[crazynanna]

Gals

[snoozin]

what about madam?