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'.

I feel we are all GIRLS and always will lots of them (girls/ladies) are bound to get upset if you use girls instead of ladies.

It's very subtle though exotic...there are times when it's not the best term.

But what "negative connotations" does 'ladies' have? To me it has none, unless it's used ironically.

If you choose to be offended by someone trying to address you in what they perceive to be a respectful way then you must take offence very easily.

Well originally 'ladies' was a class thing, wasn't it? Act like a lady, that's not ladylike, she's a true lady, I may not be a lady but I'm all woman.....

Now, I would say that it's a subtle statement of hierachy: if a man walks into an office full of women and says 'good morning, ladies', I guess I would think he was overly interested in making the gender divide obvious.

The comment 'men rule the world and earn more than women' is sooo backward (IMO)

I've never felt inferior in any way...

Some men have positions of power but so do many women...some women earn more than some men....

"If a man walks into an office full of women and says 'good morning, ladies', I guess I would think he was overly interested in making the gender divide obvious."

I'm fairly certain that the man would actually mean what he said, ie. a greeting to a group of women, and nothing more than that. Men are often refreshingly straightforward like that IMO. If you're going to twist meanings then of course it's easy to take offence wherever you choose.

But why not say 'morning all' or something?

Irksome - you have a good user name.

Bint perhaps? Perhaps not.

Supreme Beings

'woman' can also be seen as dirogatory, the last tsar's wife was called the 'german woman' by her displeased subjects , the meaning being she wasnt good enough to be called 'lady'.
all this makes it something of a minefield for a man, i could imagine a few snorts and discontent if i refered directly to a group of women as 'women'.
i can see how 'ladies' could be interpreted as being patronizing < give the little lady what she wants> but there is no alternative and women dont speak with a single voice concerning which terms piss them off and which dont.

sausages you, personally, may never feel "inferior" etc but that doesn't mean that men aren't still running things and, generally, holding positions of power in all societies.

I think ladies is ok when used between women but it does feel patronising when a man says it. Hard to articulate why. A bit "Ah Ladies, do listen while I bestow my masculine wisdom upon the thread" but that's not true when it's from a regular male poster I like because I know they're not going to be patronising arses. Of course, that's totally subjective

I used to get emails addresssed to "Guys and Gal" when I was the only woman on the sales team or, worse, "Chaps and Chapesse"

I think ladies is ok, but girls makes me cringe sometimes.

I like Supreme Beings, good suggestion.

This is how I see it...
-if the males are being described as gentlemen, then to refer to the females as ladies is appropriate
-if the males are being referred to as boys, the females are girls
-if the males are men, then the females are women

I have always found the term "ladies" to be patronising, except in a "ladies and gentlemen" context.

i'm with you on that slightly

Yabu - and need a hobby or something.

What does it bloody matter? Seriously!

Yes, DEFINATELY agree with OP.

Hate being referred to as "ladies"!

Glad you brought it up - and it's not just men who say it. Women say it to suggest some kind of girly sisterhood - "we ladies" - urrrggg!