'Females.'

It's in the context and equivalence imo. Medical situation? Males and females is fine. Describing the people in a group? "Five men and four women" would be my preference. If someone who worded things unusually preferred "five males and four females" it wouldn't bother me. I hate "five men and four females" though. Absolutely screams of incel to me.

I’m genuinely interested in why you ask that.

No, why would they be?

'Girls' and 'women' are the correct English nouns for female human children and female human adults, and many posters have pointed this out already.

It's always used by men. It feels really degrading.

Exactly. The way the world has gone now it's sex not gender that's key. The tide has definitely turned & the pushback has been fantastic however we must not let our guard slip. Females cannot be eradicated, the word is gaining power & momentum. Governments from the USA to the Netherlands are feeding much more conservative as is the electorate. The Trans Activists are not living this global shift towards conservatism one bit ❄️❄️❄️

You answered your own question with the first two “alternatives”

Absolutely agree. The premise of the OP though is, I think, that the use of “female” as a noun is what gets her goat.

So, I think several of us are in agreement that woman is the noun we want to use, and will use in the context of “the woman with black hair”, but if we’re discussing, for example, the provision of a rape crisis centre we may feel we need to say “female only” rather than “women only”?

But we wouldn’t say “females only” (plural), would we? Because we’re using female as an adjective.
In fact, I’m now thinking I might start saying “women’s sport, by which I mean sport for female people” deliberately.

Hmmm…

Quote fail

I’ve noticed that there’s often a pattern with men who refer to women as ‘females’ - it tends to align with a lack of healthy relationships with women in their lives. I also find it off-putting when women adopt this language, as it feels like internalised male-centric thinking.

Similarly, men referring to adult women as ‘girls’ is another red flag for me. It speaks volumes about their mindset.

Yes, always female people.

In the context of the trans debate there are always people who say the word "female" refers to sex and the word "woman" refers to gender (ignoring the fact that some male people say they are female) and my response is always that we have a word for the female of every other species and we need a word for female humans. Female isn't species specific. It is absolutely dehumanising to refer to women simply as females. Female what? Fish? Monkeys? Goats?

Absolutely. I will say female clients/female staff. Adjective not noun.

Exactly. I feel we have been pushed into a position where the word woman has to be qualified. And while I get and support that people want to refuse to do so on principle, practically it is 'misunderstood' (taken advantage of) when we don't.

Or individuals with wombs 😂😂😂 Yes females as males don't have wombs & never will! The truth hurts! Reality bites 😂

Female people, though, not females?

Indeed. Like, if you say that women's sports should be for women only, these people will say, "Yes, I agree. Trans women are women though."

It's infuriating.

Yes. It's absolutely this. I also agree with everything the OP has said. But practically remains the dilemma. If I say women, for example in a professional context within a 'progressive' environment, the default assumption is that this means everyone who prefers to be thought of as a woman. Sometimes this is not who I mean at all. I mean biological women. I struggle for a way to make this clear without resorting to saying 'but NOT transwomen' which would go down extremely badly. I have just thought of female as the least worst way of being clear. This discussion has made me think though and I'd be interested in alternatives.

@Toenailz I agree with you about all of that, however, when I am talking to people who believe trans women are women, I know that if I use the word "women" they won't interpret it in the way that I mean it. Which is why I end up saying female people.

When referencing services and spaces for biological women only. The word woman may be, at times erroneously, assumed to mean any person who wishes to be considered a woman. This can lead to confusion as to who a service or space is intended for. The use of female makes this clearer.

You think the noun used for female people (women) should be “a female” with the plural “females”?

Really? You’d say “I’m sitting over there with those females”, or “A female got onto the bus”?

Thanks. I like the fact that you have explained that so clearly. Definitely women from now on

I ask people not to do it because i find it patronising. Women is ok as is girls (when referring to actual girls, otherwise i ask people not to do that either)

It is often used by MRAs and Incel groups and it immediately puts me in mind of the Ferengi in Star Trek.

People who carry on using it when i have asked them not to? i tend not to listen to them at all and cba to talk to them.