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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think is odd to refer to a 32 year old as a young woman

107 replies

Hmm66 · 06/02/2026 19:25

Personally I do

OP posts:
Geruranium · 06/02/2026 19:57

Plenty of people delude themselves that they are middle aged at 60. I doubt they'll get to 120.

Februarysiceandsleet · 06/02/2026 19:56

scalt · 06/02/2026 19:41

How do the 70 and 80 year old members of my walking netball group refer to each other?

”Girls!”

I’m in an online group of women who are all retired. We used to meet in person.

The one who has returned to Australia sometimes refers to us as “girls.” She’s the only one who does. I’d never say anything, but I resent it.

I am not a girl. I’d stopped being a girl before I had children.

BunnyLake · 06/02/2026 19:56

ScarlettSarah · 06/02/2026 19:35

Leo DiCaprio, is that you?

He’d say old woman.

Zanatdy · 06/02/2026 19:55

To me they are a young woman so don’t
see the issue

sprigatito · 06/02/2026 19:54

I don’t think so, no. I knew someone who died at 34 and left two young children - I certainly thought of her as a young mother and it made the loss especially hard. I suppose it depends on the context. If it’s being said by a man to belittle a woman, then it’s wrong, but even then I think it’s the assumption that “young” means “lesser” that’s wrong, not the observation itself.

TheeNotoriousPIG · 06/02/2026 19:51

I don't mind being called "a young woman". Mind you, I regularly get mistaken for a student/work experience girl at work, so I clearly look a lot younger than I am!

Coffeeishot · 06/02/2026 19:49

Do you have some context @Hmm66

Blogswife · 06/02/2026 19:47

I’m in my 60s, to me a 32 year old is young so I’d definitely use the phrase when describing someone

ItsOnlyHobnobs · 06/02/2026 19:46

Some people seem to have very fixed ideas about ages and milestones.

I find those people tend to also fall into a ‘small town’ mindset in other ways.

goingroundincircless · 06/02/2026 19:46

I'm 50 so to me she's definitely a young woman.

TheSmallAssassin · 06/02/2026 19:45

It depends on how old you are, I'm in my 50s and 32 is still young to me. I'd definitely feel young if I was 32 again!

Coffeeishot · 06/02/2026 19:44

My Dd is 32 she is a young woman to me, i mean she is married and has a mortgage but still "young"

DiscoDuck40 · 06/02/2026 19:44

Of course a 32 year old woman is young! I was reading something the other day that said humans don't actually mature until they hit 30....

EmeraldDreams73 · 06/02/2026 19:43

I'm early 50s and definitely see early 30s as young.

Morepositivemum · 06/02/2026 19:42

40 plus to me is middle aged (I’m 45), under that young woman (although I regularly say ‘girl’ to many people’s horror!)

MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 06/02/2026 19:42

But 32 is young.

scalt · 06/02/2026 19:41

How do the 70 and 80 year old members of my walking netball group refer to each other?

”Girls!”

Planner2026 · 06/02/2026 19:41

I’m nearly twice that age. My daughters are that age. They are young women to me.

Februarysiceandsleet · 06/02/2026 19:39

According to certain academic categories
0 - 30 Young
30 - 60 Middle age
60+ Old age

I was quite offended aged 62 not to be allowed into a friend’s research project because I was officially ‘old aged.”

thistimelastweek · 06/02/2026 19:35

Clearly the OP has a point to make. So without knowing the context I would describe such a person as a woman.
Young or old is subjective.

ScarlettSarah · 06/02/2026 19:35

Leo DiCaprio, is that you?

NoYourNameChanged · 06/02/2026 19:30

This feels ever so familiar…

Specialagentblond · 06/02/2026 19:29

As always, it depends on the context.

QuietLifeNoDrama · 06/02/2026 19:29

I don’t think it’s odd. I don’t think 32 is particularly old

Agoddessonamountaintop · 06/02/2026 19:29

Do you mean to address her as ‘young woman?’ Patronising unless spoken in jest. But I’d consider a 32 year old as young, what’s odd about that?