Excuse me girls!

[C0rdelia]

Twice, in 2 days, a female work colleague has referred to me and another colleague as 'girls' in a dismissive/superior way. A red mist is beginning to form in front of my eyes. WIBU to reply, "sorry babes", if she repeats this behaviour? She is 70 and I am mid 50s.

[Discopanda]

Next time she does it look confused and look behind you!

[pictish]

Wouldn't bother me. I'd call her 'dear' in return.

[SpringBreaker]

She is a generation older than you, to her you probably are girls. Its hardly an insult. She didnt call you "the middle aged women", which I would find far more "insulting".

[Bair]

'to her you probably are girls'

As I'm 30, and 70 seems so far away would INBU to call her an 'old dear'? Cos I reckon I would be.

[C0rdelia]

I can't convey the air of superiority when she says it. The first time, I laughed as I thought it was a joke, the second time, the mist formed. We have worked in the same environment for 6 years so I don't know where this 'girls' crap is coming from.

[C0rdelia]

The other colleague is 60 and less of a 'girl' than I am.

[misskangaandroo2014]

Definitely ignore her / draw attention to your actual name.

[SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires]

Possible Replies:-

"Who do you think you are...Joyce Grenfell?"
"Wow, I didn't know we were auditioning for "Mallory Towers"
"Yesss Missss" in a bored teen voice.

[C0rdelia]

Bump. Just because I want to hit 10 posts.

[Tobyjugg]

I once spoke to an all women group where the chair called them girls. The youngest there was 73. I think it's an age thing based on reading too much Angela Brazil at an impressionable age.

[Gruntfuttock]

Would you prefer her to come out and say "Excuse me, women"? That sounds rude to me.

[LittleprincessinGOLDrocks]

What would you prefer?
How about "Now then ladies?"
Whatever you would prefer, suggest it to her next time. Then if she persists start calling her a golden oldie, or Old timer, or something mildly offensive in return.

[mrsfuzzy]

how could you take it seriously ? it's just a jokey thing at the end of the day, hardly insulting, it's nice to have your name used but to 'read' out a list of names is too much like the school register when addressing a group of people.