to object to being called "the new girl"

[threefeethighandrising]

I'm nearly 40 ffs!

I just started a new job and my boss has introduced me by email to a supplier as "the new girl".

My lodger said "I bet you wouldn't mind if a woman had said it", but that's not it at all. I wouldn't actually mind (much) if a colleague called me it, but my line manager or anyone senior?

It's patronising, isn't it? And I'd bet good money that a 40 year old bloke would something like "the new guy", definitely not a "boy".

Grrr.

Can't remember which children's sketch show it was, might be "Stupid" or maybe "Sorry I've Got No Head"; but one of the regular sketches was 'I'm the New Girl' - insisting she's still the new girl even though she's been at the school for months. When I got a new job a bit later, I found myself introducing myself as 'The New Girl' almost automatically. Could your manager be similarly influenced? And I have also used the phrase 'The New Boy' in a similar way.

No, you are over 18.

It should be "The New Woman" :O

YANBU at all. Doesn't matter if he meant to be patronising. Sexism and the infantilisation of women is insidious; if we don't pay attention to it it will continue.

I'd challenge him on it. And in future, if he must, he can call you 'my new colleague' or 'the new member of the team' or one of the billion other non-patronising options he has.

Well said LadyClarice :)

I am in the "not a big deal" camp and yes I work in the private sector.

There are a lot of positive initiatives for women where I work, I strongly believe that any glass ceiling is self imposed (or imposed by external rather than internal factors) and I think there is a casual attitude about sexism - ie people would worry about actual issues not things like saying "new girl". I can only speak as I find and that is to say the term "girl" would be ok (in most contexts) and as a general rule I do not perceive sexual discrimination as an issue in MY workplace.

Most of the men I know use the term boys when they get together ("boys night out" etc and it is indeed ironic or just a sign of cameraderie. I would generally use the term "girls night out" for a night out as "womens night" sounds ridiculous and pompous and "ladies night" like we are going to a strip club!

YABU it's just an expression.

'just an expression'. I believe that words are very powerful, and that the way we use them reveals a lot about us, as individuals and as a culture. I agree with the OP that it would be unprofessional to refer to a colleague, particularly someone I was managing, as a 'girl', certainly to an outside contact and at such an early stage. MAYBE it would be acceptable if it was in a very casual context among colleagues who were very friendly with one another. But actually, no, even amongst colleagues I'm friendly with I wouldn't say it.

Hmmn... I get called 'good girl' from time to time - by very supportive, intelligent and socially/politically aware older female colleagues (a couple of quite wonderful human rights lawyers amongst them - yes, really!)
I was a bit at first, and there's perhaps some post feminist irony there... But tbh I think it's just a casual and well intended, warm term of affection.
(Haven't been called 'lovey', yet, but I'm waiting...)